According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV is so common that at least half of sexually active men and women get it at some point in their lives.
Now, a new study published Thursday in the journal JAMA Oncology points to how common that common STI really is — in men. Approximately 45 percent of U.S. adult males aged 18 to 59 are carrying active genital HPV infections, the researchers found.
Cancers from HPV are not common in men. Certain men are more likely to develop cancers from HPV: Men with weak immune systems (including those who are living with HIV). Men who receive anal sex are more likely to get anal HPV.
Myth: HPV causes health problems in women, not men.
HPV can cause various types of cancers in men, including those that affect the tonsils, base of the tongue, anus and penis. While anal and penile cancers are rare, cancers in the throat are the most common HPV-related cancers found in men.
Men definitely need to be concerned about human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 40 types of HPV can be passed on through genital or oral sexual contact, and HPV can infect men's genital areas, including the skin on and around the penis or anus, as well as the mouth and throat.
In countries with limited screening, mortality from cervical cancer far exceeds that of HPV-related disease in men. However, in the developed world, the number of HPV-related cancers in men, including penile, oral, and anal cancer, is similar to that of cervical cancer in women [2–5].
No your husband/partner does not need to be tested. HPV is very common, and we do not know how long you may have had it. Your partner is also likely to have had HPV, and they may still have it, or their body may have dealt with it.
More than 4 out of every 10 cases of cancer caused by HPV occur among men. Every year in the U.S., over 14,000 men get cancers caused by HPV.
This is because it is difficult to get a good cell sample to test from the thick skin on the penis. Most people will not have visible symptoms if they are exposed to HPV. Therefore, for most, the virus is subclinical (invisible). This is especially true for males.
Nearly half of males in the United States have genital human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published January 19 in JAMA Oncology. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, and experts believe most sexually active individuals have an HPV infection at some point.
The median time to clearance of an infection has been reported as 5.9 months (95% CI, 5.7–6.1 months), with 75% of infections clearing within 12 months [51]. Reduced risk of persistent infection has been observed among circumcised men [54].
While sexual intercourse is the primary means of transmission, genital-to-genital interactions, oral-to-genital interactions, or deep (French) kissing can also spread the virus.
There is no treatment for the virus itself. However, there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause: Genital warts can be treated by your healthcare provider or with prescription medication. If left untreated, genital warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size or number.
Depending on the type of HPV that you have, the virus can linger in your body for years. In most cases, your body can produce antibodies against the virus and clear the virus within one to two years. Most strains of HPV go away permanently without treatment.
It is important to use a condom from start to finish of every sex act, including oral and anal sex. HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Because HPV can infect areas that are not covered by the condom, condoms will not fully protect you against HPV, but condoms do help in HPV prevention.
Tests for HPV in men
While men can be infected with HPV, there are no approved tests available for men. However, your doctor may do an anal pap test if have had anal sex. Your doctor will be able to diagnose low-risk HPV and cutaneous HPV through a physical or visual exam.
HPV clearance in men
But here again, some high-risk strains took longer to clear than low-risk HPV strains. The age of a man can also influence how long the infection lasts. One study found that older men seem to clear the infection faster, which may be because older men have more antibodies against HPV (Anic, 2011).
Whilst condoms may not fully protect your partner from HPV, they do protect both of you from other sexually transmitted infections. For couples in long-term monogamous relationships, condoms are probably of little value in preventing HPV infections as partners will inevitably share HPV.
Unlike other STIs, there is no treatment for HPV, so it is not necessary to disclose HPV to current or previous sexual partners.
Around 90% of HPV infections clear within 2 years. For a small number of women and people with a cervix, their immune system will not be able to get rid of HPV. This is called a persistent infection. A persistent HPV infection causes the cells of the cervix to change.
Is HPV Contagious Forever? Most cases of HPV clear up on their own after one to two years, and you'll no longer be contagious once it leaves your system. However, the virus can remain dormant for years, and some people experience infections that stick around for much longer.
It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms. If you are sexually active, you can get HPV, even if you have had sex with only one person.
Most genital warts are caused by HPV types 6 and 11. These appear soft and fleshy, and they can sometimes look like cauliflower [3]. Genital warts are typically painless, though they might feel tender or itchy. These warts can appear in the genital area on the penis or scrotum or around the anus.
Even if a person delays sexual activity until marriage, or only has one partner, they are still at risk of HPV infection if their partner has been exposed. You cannot get HPV from: Toilet seats.