HPV in Men - Does it Go Away

What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a genital infection that occurs in highly sexually active men or women at some point of time in their lives. Being more common in men, there are more than 100 types of HPV. Out of these some types produce plantar warts on the feet and hand while other types of HPV may infect the genital areas including the vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, or scrotum. Types of low risk HPV in men mainly includes condition like genital warts whereas types of high risk HPV in men can cause cell changes that may lead to genital or throat cancers. However, most HPV infections in men have no harmful effect at all and go away on their own in a period of 8 to 13 months.

HPV: Causes and Symptoms
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that need not require exchange of bodily fluids for its transmittal but just a skin to skin contact with an infected area. It gets transmitted through genital contact, commonly during vaginal and anal sex. The virus is highly active and contagious and can enter in to the skin through microscopic abrasions that develop in the genital area during sexual intercourse. Men having weak immune system are also more likely to develop HPV in them. Since HPV usually causes no symptoms, most men and women can get HPV and may pass on to their partners without realizing. However, following are some common signs and symptoms of low and high risk types HPV in men.

Signs of Genital Warts:

• Growths on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs, or anus.
• Painless cauliflower shaped raised or flat warts.
• It may develop within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person.

Signs of Anal Cancer:

• Anal bleeding, pain, discomfort, itching, or discharge.
• Swelling of the lymph nodes in the anal or groin area.
• Unhealthy changes in bowel habits or the shape of the stool.

Signs of Penile Cancer:

• Color changes, skin thickening, or a build-up of tissue on the penis.
• Growth or sore on the penis, initially painless but sometimes may hurt and bleed.

HPV: Diagnose and Treatment
Till now, there is no general test for HPV detection in men. However if a person has genital warts, the doctors may use a vinegar solution to help find flat warts. But once diagnosed the most probable question that comes to the mind is HPV in men, does it go away? Normally HPV in men though very common and usually goes away without causing any health problems. While there aren't treatments for the HPV virus in men, there are treatments for the genital warts and other diseases that can occur as a result of the HPV. Genital warts can be cure with medicine, surgery, laser treatment, or cryotherapy, in which liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the wart. Penile and anal cancers can be treated with advanced surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Depending upon the severity of the disease, two or more of these treatments are used together.

The new human papillomavirus vaccines: Gardisil and Cervarix, that have been developed to protect against most cervical cancers and genital warts till now have only been licensed to be used in women in between ages 9-26 years. Studies are going on to determine whether the vaccines are also safe in men, and if they can used to protect them against various health problems associated with HPV.

Although in most of the cases HPV in men almost goes away in few weeks or months, answer to HPV in men, does it go away? is still uncertain. However, one can surely avoid the risks for having HPV in men by maintaining hygiene, having protected sex, and leading a healthy and safe life.