HPV is extremely common in men. Globally, almost one in three men over age 15 are infected with at least one genital HPV type, and one in five carry a high-risk strain capable of causing cancer. Most men never develop symptoms, but the virus can lead to genital warts, several types of cancer, and ongoing transmission to partners.
Most Infections Clear on Their Own
The majority of HPV infections in men are temporary. The immune system typically clears the virus within about seven and a half months, regardless of whether the strain is high-risk or low-risk. One notable exception is HPV 16, the strain most strongly linked to cancer, which takes roughly 12 months to clear, nearly double the time of other strains.
During this window, the virus is transmissible even when there are no visible symptoms. A man can pass HPV to a partner through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex without ever knowing he’s infected. Condoms reduce the risk but don’t eliminate it, since HPV can infect areas a condom doesn’t cover.
Genital Warts
The most visible effect of HPV in men is genital warts, caused by low-risk strains (primarily types 6 and 11). These appear as small, skin-colored bumps on the penis, scrotum, or around the anus. They can be flat and nearly invisible or cluster together in a cauliflower-like shape. Some men experience itching or discomfort, though many warts cause no sensation at all.
Warts can be treated but tend to come back, especially in the first three months after treatment. Options include prescription creams you apply at home, freezing with liquid nitrogen, or surgical removal. No single method works better than others across the board. The choice usually comes down to how many warts there are, where they’re located, and what you prefer. Treating warts removes the visible growths but does not eliminate the underlying virus from your body.
Throat Cancer Is the Biggest Cancer Risk
Oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the back of the throat, base of the tongue, and tonsils, is the most common HPV-related cancer in men. In the U.S., roughly 18,800 men are diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancers each year in areas where HPV is commonly found, and about 72% of those cases are caused by the virus. That works out to approximately 13,600 HPV-caused throat cancers in American men annually.
This number has been rising for years. HPV-related throat cancer now outnumbers cervical cancer in the U.S., making it a major public health concern for men specifically. The cancer typically develops years or even decades after the initial infection, which is part of why it catches people off guard. Early symptoms can include a persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, ear pain on one side, or a lump in the neck.
Anal and Penile Cancers
HPV also causes anal and penile cancers in men, though these are far less common than throat cancer. Anal cancer risk is significantly higher in men who have sex with men and in men living with HIV. Penile cancer is rare overall but is strongly associated with persistent high-risk HPV infection. Both cancers can take years to develop and may begin as subtle changes in skin texture, color, or thickness in the affected area.
There’s No Routine HPV Test for Men
One of the most frustrating aspects of HPV in men is that there’s no approved screening test for it. The FDA has only approved HPV tests designed for cervical tissue. There’s no blood test, urine test, or swab that can tell you your overall “HPV status,” partly because the virus can infect multiple body sites independently and test results can change over time.
In practice, most men only learn they have HPV when warts appear or when a cancer is diagnosed. Some dentists offer oral HPV tests that aren’t yet FDA-approved or included in official screening guidelines. Doctors do sometimes recommend anal HPV testing for men at higher risk, particularly men who have sex with men or those with HIV. But for the general male population, there is currently no standard screening tool, which makes prevention through vaccination all the more important.
Vaccination Still Works for Most Young Adults
The HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone through age 26 who wasn’t vaccinated earlier. It protects against the strains responsible for most HPV-related cancers and genital warts. The ideal time to get vaccinated is before any sexual exposure to the virus, which is why it’s routinely given starting at age 9.
If you start the series before your 15th birthday, you need only two doses, spaced 6 to 12 months apart. Starting at 15 or older requires three doses over six months. Catch-up vaccination between ages 13 and 26 is strongly encouraged for anyone who missed it earlier. After 26, the vaccine is not routinely recommended, though some adults up to age 45 may benefit depending on their risk factors and history.
For men especially, vaccination fills a critical gap. Without a screening test to catch infections early, the vaccine is the primary tool for preventing HPV-related cancers that might not show up for decades. Studies consistently show the vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection with the targeted strains when given before exposure.