Most men with HPV never develop any symptoms at all. Roughly one in three men worldwide carry at least one type of genital HPV, yet the vast majority will never know it because their immune system clears the virus quietly. When symptoms do appear, they typically show up as genital warts, and in rare cases, HPV can lead to cancers of the penis, anus, or throat.
Why Most Men Never Notice an Infection
HPV is remarkably common and remarkably silent. About 31% of men globally are infected with at least one genital HPV type at any given time, and roughly 21% carry a high-risk strain linked to cancer. Despite those numbers, the infection produces no visible changes in most cases. The median time for a man’s immune system to clear an HPV infection is about 5.9 months, and 75% of infections resolve within 12 months without ever causing a symptom.
This matters because you can pass the virus to a partner even when you have no signs of infection. There is also no routine HPV screening test approved for men the way there is for women. In practice, most men only learn they have HPV if visible warts appear or if a partner receives an abnormal result.
Genital Warts: The Most Common Visible Symptom
When HPV does cause something you can see, it’s usually genital warts. These are caused by low-risk HPV types (most often types 6 and 11) that don’t lead to cancer. Warts can show up anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 months after exposure, though most appear within 2 to 3 months.
They look like small, flesh-colored or slightly discolored bumps on the skin. A single wart may be so small and flat it’s hard to spot, while clusters of warts can take on a raised, cauliflower-like texture. They’re usually painless, though depending on their location they can sometimes itch or cause mild discomfort. Common locations include:
- Shaft of the penis (especially in circumcised men)
- Under the foreskin (in uncircumcised men)
- Tip of the penis
- Scrotum
- Perianal skin and anus
- Groin and upper thighs
If left alone, warts can stay the same size, grow larger, multiply, or disappear on their own as the immune system fights the virus. In someone with a weakened immune system, they’re more likely to spread into larger clusters.
How Genital Warts Are Treated
Genital warts aren’t dangerous, but most men want them removed. Treatment options fall into two categories: topical medications you apply at home over several weeks, and in-office procedures where a provider removes the warts directly through freezing, burning, or surgical excision. The best approach depends on how many warts you have, where they are, and how large they’ve grown.
Removing warts doesn’t cure the underlying HPV infection. The virus can remain in nearby skin cells, which is why warts sometimes come back in the weeks or months after treatment. Recurrence is common and doesn’t mean the treatment failed. Over time, as your immune system suppresses the virus, recurrences typically become less frequent.
HPV-Related Cancers in Men
High-risk HPV strains, particularly type 16, can cause cancer in men. This is far less common than genital warts, and it generally takes years or even decades for a persistent infection to progress to cancer. The three main HPV-linked cancers in men are penile cancer, anal cancer, and oropharyngeal (throat) cancer.
Penile Cancer
Penile cancer is rare, but HPV is involved in a significant portion of cases. Early signs include a painless lump or sore on the penis that may bleed, flat growths with a blueish-brown color, small crusty bumps, skin thickening, or a change in skin color. Some men notice persistent swelling or irritation at the head of the penis. Foul-smelling discharge beneath the foreskin can also be an early sign. These changes tend to develop slowly and are often mistaken for an infection or skin irritation.
Anal Cancer
Anal cancer can develop in any man but is significantly more common among men who have receptive anal sex and among men who are HIV-positive. Symptoms include bleeding during bowel movements, persistent anal itching, pain or pressure in the anal area, unusual discharge, or a lump near the anus. Some cases produce no symptoms and are found only on examination.
Oropharyngeal Cancer
HPV-related throat cancers have been increasing in recent years and now represent the most common HPV-linked cancer in men in some countries. These cancers develop at the base of the tongue and in the tonsil area. Symptoms include a sore throat that lasts for weeks without improving, persistent earache (often on one side), hoarseness, difficulty or pain when swallowing, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and unexplained weight loss. Some people have no symptoms at all until the cancer is found incidentally or has grown large enough to cause a visible neck mass.
There is no routine screening test for HPV-related throat cancer. Paying attention to a one-sided sore throat or neck lump that persists beyond a few weeks is the most practical early warning.
Vaccination Significantly Reduces Risk
The HPV vaccine is the most effective way to prevent both warts and HPV-related cancers. In clinical trials, the vaccine reduced genital wart incidence in men by about 89%, dropping the rate from roughly 2% to 0.2% over a follow-up period of just over two years. The vaccine is recommended for boys and young men, ideally before sexual activity begins, though it’s approved for men up to age 45.
Vaccination works best before exposure to the virus, but even men who have already had one HPV type can benefit from protection against strains they haven’t encountered yet. If you were never vaccinated as a teenager and you’re under 26, catch-up vaccination is strongly recommended. Between 27 and 45, the decision is worth discussing with a provider based on your individual risk.
What to Watch For
Because there’s no approved screening test for HPV in men, awareness of your own body is your main tool. Periodically check the skin of your penis, scrotum, and groin for new bumps, sores, or color changes that weren’t there before. Pay attention to any persistent throat symptoms, especially a sore throat or earache on one side that doesn’t resolve within a few weeks.
Men who have receptive anal sex, particularly those who are also HIV-positive, face a higher risk of anal cancer. Some specialists offer anal Pap tests for high-risk individuals, though this isn’t yet part of standard guidelines for all men. If you fall into a higher-risk group, it’s worth asking whether anal screening makes sense for you.