A man can absolutely contract Human Papillomavirus (HPV) from a woman. HPV is a common, sexually transmitted virus, and nearly every sexually active person will acquire at least one type of the virus at some point. While HPV is often discussed in relation to cervical cancer screening in women, the virus is widely shared between partners of all sexes. Understanding how HPV spreads and its potential effects on men is important for making informed choices about sexual health and preventative measures.
Understanding HPV Transmission
The mechanism for HPV transmission does not rely on the exchange of bodily fluids like blood or semen. The virus is primarily spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, often during sexual activity, meaning penetration is not required for transmission. This contact can occur during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner.
A person can pass the infection even if the infected individual has no visible symptoms, which is common for most HPV infections. The virus can be transmitted from a woman to a man without either person knowing the woman was infected. Because symptoms can take years to appear, or may never appear, it is often impossible to know when the virus was first acquired. The majority of HPV infections are transient, clearing up on their own within one to two years due to the body’s immune response.
Symptoms and Health Risks in Men
Most men who contract HPV will never experience symptoms, and their immune system will clear the infection spontaneously. When the infection persists, it is categorized into two main groups based on the strain: low-risk and high-risk types. Low-risk HPV strains, most notably types 6 and 11, cause genital warts, which are non-cancerous growths.
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, flat, raised, or shaped like a cauliflower. These warts can appear on the penis, scrotum, or around the anus and may go away, stay the same, or increase in number. High-risk HPV types, especially strains 16 and 18, are responsible for the development of certain cancers in men.
The most common HPV-related cancer in men is oropharyngeal cancer, which affects the back of the throat, including the tonsils and the base of the tongue. HPV is thought to cause nearly 70% of certain head and neck cancers, and men are three times more likely to develop them than women. High-risk HPV can also lead to anal cancer, for which HPV is responsible for about 91% of cases, and penile cancer, though both are relatively rare. The latency period for high-risk HPV can be long, meaning the virus can remain dormant for many years before causing precancerous cell changes or cancer.
Diagnosis and Testing for Male Patients
Diagnosis of HPV infection in men usually occurs only if visible symptoms are present. There is currently no routine, FDA-approved screening test for HPV in men comparable to the Pap test or primary HPV screening used for women. The lack of a standardized test is partly due to the difficulty in consistently obtaining a cell sample for testing from the thick skin on the penis.
When symptoms are present, a healthcare provider can diagnose genital warts through a visual inspection. For high-risk individuals, such as men who have sex with men or those with HIV, some doctors may recommend an anal Pap test. This test collects cells from the anus to check for abnormalities that could indicate precancerous changes. However, this test screens for the resulting abnormal cells, not the HPV virus itself. The difficulty in testing for high-risk HPV in men means that infection often goes undetected until a precancerous lesion or cancer develops.
Effective Prevention Strategies
The single most effective tool for preventing HPV infection and its associated diseases is the HPV vaccine. This vaccine protects against the types of HPV that cause most genital warts and most HPV-related cancers, including oropharyngeal, anal, and penile cancers. It is recommended for males and females starting at ages 11 or 12, but it can be given as early as age nine.
For those starting the series between ages nine and 14, a two-dose schedule is recommended, with the second shot given six to 12 months after the first. Individuals who start the vaccination series at age 15 or older require three doses over a six-month period to achieve full protection. Condoms can help reduce the risk of HPV transmission, but they do not offer complete protection because the virus can be present on skin areas not covered by the condom. Maintaining a mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is another way to reduce risk.