Health Care

by Jennifer Anderson

Do men can get HPV? Yes, men get HPV in the same way that women, ie through close contact, usually during sexual intercourse. However, HPV does not usually cause serious health problems on men, especially those with healthy immune systems.

How often does HPV Occur in men? HPV is very common in both men and women. It is difficult to provide concrete data for men, since there are not extensive studies with men and there is no approved HPV test for them. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than half of men will contract HPV at some point in their lives.

Is there an HPV test for men? There is currently no officially approved test for HPV in men. This is because it was not developed until now an effective and reliable test to take a sample of skin cells of the male genitalia which allows detection of HPV.

What causes HPV symptoms? HPV usually causes no symptoms in men. Even if the virus causes changes in skin cells, they are often so small that they go unnoticed (and are not dangerous). When the HPV virus causes significant changes, the most common consequence are genital wart symptoms, which usually appear around the anus or penis, scrotum (testicles) or thighs. These warts can have different forms, from scaly patches and small growths to bulky and sharp. Genital warts are not serious and can be treated, but may reappear if the body's immune system has not completely eliminated HPV. Rarely, some kinds of "high risk" HPV can cause certain cancers, including cancer of the penis or anus (the latter usually affects gay men, bisexual or infected by HIV).

Should you quit having sex with your partner if she finds out? There is no need to stop having sex with your partner if she has performed the test of the virus and find out you have HPV. The virus is commonly exchanged between sexual partners, and when you discover the HPV, it is very likely already been transmitted between two people. In other words, do not have to worry about whether the same type of HPV is transmitted again and again. However, if you have sex with a different partner, you can get any type of HPV that are "active" in their body and vice versa.

Remember: HPV is not a sign that you or your partner are infidels. HPV can remain "silent" for many years before its discovery on a test. Your partner may have had HPV for a long time and can not know when or who it has infected.


About the Author

Jennifer Anderson works with Helping people with Sexually Transmitted Diseases. If you Have any questions feel free to visit Your STD Help for more Information