How Do They Check Men For HPV?

As there is currently no approved HPV Test for men to accurately diagnose HPV infection, many wonder how they check men for HPV. The infection from the human papilloma virus often takes a silent course of affecting both men and women without any manifestation of symptoms. This makes early detection of the virus difficult. But there are some general and simple tests that could help check men for HPV.

1. The most noticeable symptom of HPV in the course of infection is the manifestation of genital warts. It usually takes weeks, months, or years before genital warts may appear. HPV infected men do not even know they have the virus for years until symptoms of genital warts appear. The physician will check the appearance of warts, which usually appear as flaky patches or raised growths along the anal or penile area, scrotum, and groin or thighs. The wart may also be cauliflower in shape and the warts are always painless. To test for warts, the physician may daub acetic acid or vinegar along the suspected infected area. If the area turns white, it is indicative of the presence of warts on the tested area.
2. Physicians usually depend on other symptoms that indicate HPV infection in order to check men to be positive for HPV. Men may be susceptible to anal cancer due to HPV. The condition manifests of symptoms consisting of anal bleeding, anal pain and itching, and often an anal discharge. The physician will also check for possible swelling on lymphnodes along the groin area. Men with possible anal cancer will also have a noticeable change in their bowel movement. The physician may also check for changes in the penis such as change in color, skin thickening, sores, and bleeding, which can possibly indicate penile cancer due to HPV.
3. Physicians may also recommend for an annual PAP smear test to test for anal cancer. The process may not be a standard test to check men for HPV but this helps men identify their risk for anal cancer during the silent course of HPV infection. The physician will conduct an anal pap test by getting sample of cells from the anal area and bring it for a pathology test. Any abnormal changes seen from the cells may be indicative of risk to anal cancer. Because there is no standard test and diagnosis for HPV in men, it is prudent to check for abnormalities on the penis, scrotum, groin and anus for signs of warts, blisters, sores, and, ulcers and to consult a physician immediately.