There is no FDA-approved routine HPV test for men. Unlike cervical screening for women, which uses well-established HPV tests, no equivalent exists for men of any age. The CDC states explicitly that current HPV tests “are not useful for men of any age.” This means most men will never receive a simple swab or blood test that tells them whether they carry HPV. Instead, HPV-related problems in men are detected through other methods, depending on what part of the body is affected.
Why There’s No Routine Test for Men
HPV tests used in women’s health detect high-risk HPV strains on the cervix, where the virus can cause cell changes that lead to cancer. The cervix provides a reliable, accessible surface for sampling. Male anatomy doesn’t offer an equivalent site where testing produces consistent, actionable results.
Even if an HPV infection were discovered in a man through some method, the clinical approach would typically be the same: wait for the immune system to clear it. Most HPV infections resolve on their own within one to two years. Because a positive result wouldn’t change management for the vast majority of men, there’s been little push to develop a routine screening tool. No test can predict which HPV infections will clear and which will persist or progress to disease.
How Genital Warts Are Diagnosed
The most visible sign of HPV in men is genital warts, caused by low-risk HPV strains (types 6 and 11). Diagnosis is straightforward: a healthcare provider examines the skin visually. No HPV test is used, because the CDC notes that test results “are not confirmatory and do not guide genital wart management.”
If a lesion looks unusual, a biopsy may be performed. Specifically, a provider will biopsy warts that are pigmented, hardened, attached to deeper tissue, bleeding, or ulcerated. A biopsy is also more likely if the patient has a weakened immune system, if the diagnosis is uncertain, or if the lesions don’t respond to treatment. The tissue sample is examined under a microscope to rule out precancerous or cancerous changes.
Anal Screening for High-Risk Men
Anal cancer is one area where screening does exist for certain men. Over 90% of anal cancers are caused by HPV, and the risk is significantly higher in men who are living with HIV or who are men who have sex with men (MSM).
For these groups, guidelines recommend anal cancer screening using a procedure similar to a Pap test. A provider inserts a small swab into the anal canal to collect cells, which are then examined for abnormalities. This is called anal cytology, and it can be combined with HPV co-testing to check for high-risk strains. The recommended ages to begin screening are:
- Age 35: MSM and transgender women living with HIV
- Age 45: All other people living with HIV
If screening finds abnormal cells, the next step is high-resolution anoscopy (HRA), a procedure where a specialist uses a magnifying instrument to closely examine the anal lining and identify areas that may need biopsy or treatment. Factors that increase urgency for referral include a history of significant immune suppression, smoking, infection with HPV types 16 or 18, and older age.
Throat Cancer and HPV
HPV-related throat cancer (oropharyngeal cancer) is now one of the most common HPV-associated cancers in men. About 70% of oropharyngeal cancers are caused by HPV. Despite this, there is no approved screening test to detect HPV in the throat.
These cancers are typically found only after symptoms appear. The most common first sign is a painless lump in the neck, which is actually a swollen lymph node. As a tumor grows, it can press on nerves and cause ear pain or jaw aching. Any neck lump that persists, or ear pain that doesn’t resolve within two weeks or doesn’t match a minor infection, warrants a visit to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Early detection through symptom awareness is currently the only practical approach.
Penile Cancer Screening
About 63% of penile cancers are linked to HPV. There is no routine screening program for penile cancer, partly because it’s rare. Detection depends on a man noticing changes on the penis, such as a growth, sore, or discolored patch that doesn’t heal. A provider who suspects a problem will perform a biopsy to determine whether the tissue is cancerous or precancerous.
Research into visual examination techniques for the penis, such as applying a dilute acetic acid solution to highlight abnormal areas, has shown limited reliability. One study found that diffuse white patches after acetic acid application turned out to be actual HPV lesions only about 18% of the time, making this method unreliable as a screening tool. Biopsy remains the definitive way to confirm a diagnosis.
What You Can Do: Vaccination
Because detection options are so limited for men, prevention through vaccination carries extra weight. The HPV vaccine is recommended for all children at ages 11 to 12 (and can start as early as 9). At these younger ages, only two doses are needed, spaced 6 to 12 months apart.
Men and boys who start the vaccine series at age 15 or later need three doses spread over six months. Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26 for anyone who wasn’t vaccinated earlier. After 26, the vaccine isn’t broadly recommended, but adults between 27 and 45 who haven’t been vaccinated can discuss it with a provider based on their individual risk for new infections.
The vaccine protects against the HPV strains responsible for most genital warts and the overwhelming majority of HPV-related cancers. For men, who have no routine screening safety net, vaccination before exposure to the virus is the single most effective way to reduce risk.