HPV Infection In Men: Know The Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most widespread sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Much of the information on HPV focuses on women, but the virus can cause health problems in men too.

More than half of the sexually active men in the US will have HPV infection at some time in their life. HPV infection can increase the chances of a man getting genital cancers. Just in the case of women, HPV infection can cause genital warts in men too. It's not important just for the women, but men too need to understand how to reduce the risks of contracting HPV infection.

Causes of HPV in men

Just like women, men can get HPV infection through direct, intimate contact, including sexual contact. HPV virus can spread from one person to another by having vaginal, anal or oral sex, or intimate skin-to-skin contact with the infected person. Most people who are infected with HPV unknowingly pass it on to their partners because they are not aware of their own HPV status.

Symptoms of HPV in men

Most of the men with HPV virus never show any symptoms or realize they have the infection. The types of high-risk HPV that can cause cancer rarely present any symptoms in men. The symptoms may come up in the form of warts. Consult a doctor if warts of any kind appear on:

• Penis
• Scrotum
• Anus
• Back of throat

The warts can be small or large, flat or raised, or cauliflower-shaped and appear as a bump or group of bumps in the area surrounding the penis, anus or genitals.

Treatment for HPV in men

HPV infection in men can't be treated when no symptoms are present. Instead, there are treatments for the problems caused by the HPV infection. Currently, there are no tests in the market to detect HPV virus in men.

It's important that you report any HPV related symptoms to the doctor. When genital warts appear, the doctor will use a variety of topical and oral medications to treat the condition. The genital warts developed because of HPV virus can also be surgically removed or frozen or burned off, depending on the size, location and shape of the genital warts.

Prevention from HPV in men

The best way to protect yourself against HPV virus is to get vaccinated. The vaccine for HPV virus can be taken from 12 years of age till 26 years. You can also protect yourself by:

• limiting number of sexual partners
• using condoms
• avoiding sexual contact with a partner if genital warts are present