Men need to be alert to HPV, too

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following information concerning what, problems, if any, can occur if an adult male gets HPV in his system:

Most men who get HPV (of any type) never develop any symptoms or health problems. But some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types can cause penile cancer or anal cancer. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause penile or anal cancer. Anal cancer is not the same as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is more common than anal cancer, but it is not caused by HPV.

How common are HPV-related conditions in men?

• About 1 percent of sexually active men in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.
• Penile cancer is rare, especially in circumcised men. In the U.S. , it affects about 1 in every 100,000 men. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that about 1,530 men would be diagnosed with penile cancer in the U.S. in 2006.
• Anal cancer is also uncommon—especially in men with healthy immune systems. According to the ACS, about 1,900 men will be diagnosed with anal cancer in the U.S. in 2007.

Some men are more likely to develop HPV-related diseases than others:

• Gay and bisexual men are 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than heterosexual men.
• Men with weak immune systems, including those who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are more likely than other men to develop anal cancer. Men with HIV are also more likely to get severe cases of genital warts that are hard to treat.

Signs of genital warts:

• One or more growths on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs, or anus.
• Warts may be raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped. They usually do not hurt.
• Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person.

Signs and symptoms of anal cancer:

• Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms.
• Anal bleeding, pain, itching, or discharge.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the anal or groin area.
• Changes in bowel habits or the shape of your stool.

Signs of penile cancer:

• First signs: changes in color, skin thickening, or a build-up of tissue on the penis.
• Later signs: a growth or sore on the penis. It is usually painless, but in some cases, the sore may be painful and bleed.
• There may be no symptoms until the cancer is quite advanced.

How do men get HPV?

HPV is passed on through genital contact –most often during vaginal and anal sex. Since HPV usually causes no symptoms, most men and women can get HPV – and pass it on - without realizing it. People can have HPV even if years have passed since they had sex.

Is there an HPV test for men ?

Currently, there is no test designed or approved to find HPV in men. The only approved HPV test on the market is for women, for use as part of cervical cancer screening. There is no general test for men or women to check one's overall “HPV status.” But HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing health problems. So an HPV infection that is found today will most likely not be there a year or two from now.