HPV Facts for Men

Overview

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus. Most people in the United States who are sexually active will eventually have HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus can infect the skin in a man's genital area, including the penis or anus.

Types

Of the more than 40 types of HPV, some can cause genital warts and others can cause anal or penile cancer. The types that cause genital warts are not the same types that can cause anal or penile cancer.

Features

Most men who get HPV never develop any symptoms or related health problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. Only about 1 percent of sexually active men in the United States develop genital warts, and both anal and penile cancer are rare.

Considerations

Some men are more likely to develop diseases related to HPV than others are. Statistics from the CDC state that gay and bisexual men develop anal cancer 17 times more often than heterosexual men, and men with weak immune systems, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are at greater risk for developing anal cancer and severe cases of genital warts that are difficult to treat.

Symptoms

Symptoms of HPV infection that may appear in men include warts on the penis, groin, testicles, anus or thighs.

Effects

There is no cure or treatment for HPV, but there are treatments for the conditions caused by HPV in men. Treatments for genital warts include surgical removal, freezing and medication. Treatments for anal and penile cancers include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.