HPV in Male: Symptoms and Prevention

Men infected with HPV tend to show no symptoms at all. The infection usually goes away completely on its own without even realizing that an infection already occurred. However, if HPV infection does not go away, it may develop to other health problems as listed below characterized by several symptoms.

Genital warts

• One or more growths on areas including the penis, testicles, thighs, groins, and around the anus.

• Warts do not hurt and may come in different types and forms - single or group, raised or flat.

• Warts usually appear after weeks or months of sexual contact with infected person.

Anal cancer

• Bleeding, pain, itchiness, and discharge in the anus.

• Swollen lymph nodes in the groin or anal area.

• Change in bowel appearance and habits.

Penile cancer

• First signs: skin thickening, changes in color, tissue build-up in the penis.

• Later signs: penis growth which is usually painless. However other cases may be painful and cause bleeding.

Oropharyngeal cancer

• Sore throat and constant coughing

• Voice changes or hoarseness

• Persistent ear pain

• Trouble in breathing and swallowing

• Weight loss

• Mass in the neck

At the moment, there are still no approved HPV tests for men. Routine testing or screening in men are not recommended by CDC to check for HPV related infections. However, there are some health care providers that offer anal Pap tests to those men who may be at risk for HPV infections and other related conditions such as anal cancer. If symptoms are observed, seek immediate help from a health expert.

Human Papilloma Virus or HPV in men are commonly passed on through the following:

• Genital contact during vaginal or anal sex with an infected person

• Oral sex with an infected person

• Other close skin-to-skin touching activities during sexual intercourse

Besides, there are three male subpopulations that show increased risk factors for developing HPV related conditions in men. These include the following:

• Men that is uncircumcised.

• Men with a weak immune system. This also includes those infected with HIV.

• Men who are active in sexual activities, especially in anal sex, with other men.

Genital warts

Genital warts can be treated using a variety of medications, both oral and topical. This may include podofilox to destroy the wart tissue and imiquimod to boost the immune system. It can also be frozen off using the cryotherapy technique or removed via surgery burning, or laser treatment. Home remedies can also be used to relieve the pain brought about by the condition.

However, warts often come back after a few months even after the treatment. Thus, series of treatments are needed to prevent its recurrence. It is important to seek help from medical doctors for better management. Remember that these wart managements don’t necessarily lower the chance of a man passing HPV to his sex partner.

Untreated warts may tend to go away on their own. Others may stay the same or grow in size. But there’s nothing to worry about as these warts will not turn into cancer

Cancer (Anal, Penile, and Oropharyngeal)

The cancer of the anus, penis, and oropharynx are commonly treated with medical procedures such as radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. Early diagnosis of HPV-related cancers allows an easier and treatable approach. At times, a combination of two or more of these medical treatments is used. It is important to consult a medical doctor to determine the best treatment plan for the condition.

Get a vaccine

The HPV vaccine is proven safe and effective. A common vaccine that can help protect men against HPV infection is Gardasil which is usually given in three shots for about six months. This will protect men against genital warts and HPV related cancer. It is ideal to get a vaccine before your first ever sexual intercourse with proper guidance and recommendations from the health experts. As per CDC, men ages 11 to 12 years old should have two doses of HPV vaccine to ensure protection against HPV related cancer.

Use a condom

The best protection is to always use a condom for every sexual intercourse. This can help lower the chances of acquiring HPV and other sexually transmitted infections. However, keep in mind that there are still some areas in the body that are not covered by the condom.

Limit sex partners

Limit the number of sex partners that you have. Also, be sure to choose the one who had few to none sex activities and partners before you.

Prevention is always better than cure

Prevent infection by avoiding any sexual contact with someone who has genital warts present. Also, remember that there are some HPV infections that don’t show any symptoms at all. The only way to make sure that you are free from any infection is not to have any sexual contact with those who you really don’t know.