Men get HPV (human papillomavirus) primarily through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. The virus spreads through skin-to-skin touching during sex, which means full intercourse isn’t the only route. Most men who contract HPV never develop symptoms, and the infection typically clears on its own, but certain strains can cause genital warts or cancer years after exposure.
How HPV Spreads to Men
HPV is most commonly transmitted during vaginal or anal sex, but it also spreads through close skin-to-skin contact in the genital area during sexual activity. Oral sex is another significant route, particularly for infections that develop in the throat, tonsils, and base of the tongue. Deep kissing may also transmit oral HPV if the virus in saliva or mucus contacts an open sore or cut in the mouth.
What makes HPV especially easy to catch is that the person transmitting it usually has no idea they’re infected. There are no visible signs in most cases. A partner can pass HPV along without ever having had a wart, an abnormal test result, or any symptom at all. This silent transmission is a major reason the virus is so widespread.
Why Most Men Never Know They Have It
Most men who get HPV never develop symptoms. The infection is typically temporary, with the immune system clearing the virus without the person ever realizing they were infected. There is no approved HPV screening test for men, not even through a doctor’s office. Unlike women, who can be screened for HPV through cervical testing, men have no routine diagnostic option for detecting asymptomatic infections.
This means many men carry and transmit HPV without any way to confirm it. The only time HPV becomes clinically visible in men is when it causes genital warts or, much later, cancer.
Genital Warts
About 90% of genital wart cases are caused by two low-risk HPV strains (types 6 and 11). These strains don’t cause cancer, but the warts themselves can appear months or even years after the initial infection, making it difficult to trace when exposure happened. Warts can show up on the penis, scrotum, groin, thighs, or around the anus. They’re treatable but can recur.
HPV-Related Cancers in Men
Thirteen HPV strains are classified as cancer-causing. In men, these high-risk strains are linked to cancers of the penis, anus, and throat. The numbers are significant: HPV is thought to be responsible for more than 90% of anal cancers and about 60% of penile cancers.
Throat cancer tied to HPV has seen a notable rise over the past three decades. Roughly 60% to 70% of cancers in the back of the throat (the oropharynx, which includes the base of the tongue and tonsils) may be linked to HPV. Oral HPV infection is four times more common in men than in women, making this a particularly relevant risk. The biggest risk factor for oral HPV is having oral sex, with higher numbers of lifetime oral sex partners increasing the odds. Smoking, heavy alcohol use, and being HIV-positive also raise the risk.
These cancers typically develop years or even decades after the initial HPV infection, so there’s a long gap between exposure and any potential health consequences.
How Much Do Condoms Help?
Condoms reduce the risk of HPV transmission, but they don’t eliminate it. Because HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact, any infected area not covered by a condom can still transmit the virus. The CDC notes that latex condoms protect against transmission when the infection is in an area the condom covers, but not when it’s on surrounding skin like the scrotum, groin, or inner thighs.
That said, consistent condom use isn’t pointless. Studies have linked condom use with faster clearance of HPV infections and regression of HPV-related penile lesions in men. So while condoms offer partial rather than complete protection, they still meaningfully reduce risk and help the body deal with infections that do occur.
The HPV Vaccine for Men
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent HPV infection. The vaccine is recommended through age 26 for anyone who wasn’t adequately vaccinated earlier, and it can be started as young as age 9. For those who begin the series between ages 9 and 14, only two doses are needed, spaced six to twelve months apart. Starting at age 15 or older requires three doses, given over six months.
Adults between 27 and 45 can also receive the vaccine on a three-dose schedule, though it’s most effective when given before any exposure to the virus. The vaccine protects against the HPV strains responsible for most cancers and genital warts, so getting vaccinated before becoming sexually active provides the strongest benefit. If you’re past that point, vaccination can still protect against strains you haven’t yet encountered.