Can Men Get Tested for HPV?

Many men ask how to get an HPV test, and then feel brushed off when the answer is “you can’t.” It isn’t about being ignored. It comes down to what the tests can and can’t do, and what to do instead.

Can men be tested for HPV?

For routine use, no. The CDC says there is no test to find out a person’s “HPV status.” It also says the HPV tests that exist are used to screen for cervical cancer, only in women aged 30 and over, and are not recommended to screen men, adolescents or women under 30.

The NHS says the same about the type of test: HPV testing is part of cervical screening, and there’s no blood test for HPV.

How can a man find out if he has HPV?

Most people with HPV never know they have it. The CDC says most never develop symptoms or health problems from it, and in most cases (9 out of 10) HPV goes away on its own within two years.

The CDC says some people find out they have HPV when they get genital warts. A clinician can usually diagnose genital warts just by looking. The CDC says HPV testing is not recommended for that purpose, because the result isn’t confirmatory and doesn’t guide how the warts are managed. A biopsy may be done if a lesion looks unusual.

What do genital warts look like on a man?

Warts usually appear as a small bump or a group of bumps. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. The CDC says they commonly occur under the foreskin of an uncircumcised penis and on the shaft of a circumcised penis. They can also appear on the scrotum, around the anus or inside the urethra or anus.

They can be painless, or they may itch or hurt. They can go away, stay the same or grow. If you notice a wart, lump or sore in your genital area, mouth or throat, the CDC advises talking to a healthcare provider.

Is there an HPV test for the mouth, throat or anus?

There’s no approved test for HPV in the mouth or throat, according to the CDC. MedlinePlus says an oral HPV infection has no symptoms and cannot be detected by a test.

HPV can cause cancer of the penis, anus and the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils. The CDC says cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after HPV is acquired, and that there is no way to know who will develop it. Cervical cancer remains the only HPV-related cancer with a recommended routine screening test, so for other areas, the focus is on noticing changes and seeing a clinician about them.

What should I do if I’m worried about HPV?

• Look after the basics. If you see anything unusual on the skin of the genitals, book an appointment. Don’t try to treat it yourself.
• Order a test for other STIs. Genital warts can be sexually transmitted, so the CDC advises testing for other STIs when someone has them, and you can order that test online. You can read more in which STD test do I need.
• Ask about vaccination. The vaccine can prevent most cases of genital warts in people who have not yet been exposed to the wart-causing types.
• Tell your partners. If you have genital warts, the CDC says to let current partners know. HPV can pass between partners even when there are no visible warts. See can you have sex with HPV.

Does anything else affect my risk?

If you have a partner with a cervix, the CDC says routine cervical cancer screening for women aged 21 to 65 can prevent cervical cancer.

People with weak immune systems, including those with HIV, may be less able to fight off HPV and more likely to develop health problems from it. If that applies to you, tell your clinician so that they can check you more carefully.

Most men who have HPV will clear it without ever knowing. If you want the full picture of what clearing means, see can HPV be cured or go away.