HPV Symptoms in Males

What does HPV in males look like?

80% of unvaccinated adults will pick up HPV at some point in their life. Most commonly there are no symptoms.

Sometimes HPV can develop into warts, although it is important to remember that not everyone gets warts from HPV.

HPV testing is not part of a routine sexual health check up for males or females, as there is no swab or blood test that can check for all HPV types. It is also in part because in some people the virus is "hibernating" at levels that are not detectable by testing. 

For males, HPV can affect the ano-genital area and also the throat, in the form of genital warts and also potentially developing penile cancer, anal cancer, or throat cancer. 

HPV infection is highest amongst men who have sex with men, particularly those who are also HIV positive. A compromised immune system is less able to detect and fight the HPV virus. It is recommended that all males living with HIV undergo regular health checks including an anal rectal exam to look for signs or symptoms that may indicated HPV-associated cancers.