* About 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. have Genital Warts at any one time.
* Penile cancer is rare, especially in circumcised men. In the U.S., it affects about 1 in every 100,000 men. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that about 1,530 men would be diagnosed with penile cancer in the U.S. in 2006.
* Anal cancer is also uncommon—especially in men with healthy immune systems. According to the ACS, about 1,900 men will be diagnosed with anal cancer in the U.S. in 2007.
Some men are more likely to develop HPV-related diseases than others:
* Gay and bisexual men are 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer than heterosexual men.
* Men with weak immune systems, including those who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are more likely than other men to develop anal cancer. Men with HIV are also more likely to get severe cases of genital warts that are hard to treat.
Whar are the signs and symptoms?
Among men who do develop health problems, these are some of the signs to look for:
Signs of genital warts:
* One or more growths on the penis, testicles, groin, thighs, or anus.
* Warts may be raised, flat, or cauliflower-shaped. They usually do not hurt.
* Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person.
Signs and symptoms of anal cancer:
* Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms.
* Anal bleeding, pain, itching, or discharge.
* Swollen lymph nodes in the anal or groin area.
* Changes in bowel habits or the shape of your stool.
Signs of penile cancer:
* First signs: changes in color, skin thickening, or a build-up of tissue on the penis.
* Later signs: a growth or sore on the penis. It is usually painless, but in some cases, the sore may be painful and bleed.
* There may be no symptoms until the cancer is quite advanced.
HOw do men get HPV?
HPV is passed on through genital contact –most often during vaginal and anal sex. Since HPV usually causes no symptoms, most men and women can get HPV – and pass it on - without realizing it. People can have HPV even if years have passed since they had sex.
Is there a test for HPV in men?
Currently, there is no test designed or approved to find HPV in men. The only approved HPV test on the market is for women, for use as part of cervical cancer screening. There is no general test for men or women to check one’s overall “HPV status." But HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing health problems. So an HPV infection that is found today will most likely not be there a year or two from now.
REMEMBER: HPV is very common in men and women. Most men with HPV will never develop health problems from it. Finding out if you have HPV is not as important as finding out if you have the diseases that it can cause. Scientists are still studying how best to screen for penile and anal cancers in men who may be at highest risk for those diseases (see below).
Is there a test to find genital warts?
Most of the time, you can see genital warts. Some doctors may use a vinegar solution to help find flat warts—but this test can sometimes wrongly identify normal skin as a wart.
Is there a test to screen for HPV-related cancers in men?
Screening tests can find early signs of disease in people who are not yet sick. Screening tests for penile or anal cancer are not widely recommended.
Some experts recommend yearly anal Pap tests for gay, bisexual, and HIV-positive men, since anal cancer is more common in these groups. This test can find abnormal cells in the anus that could turn into cancer over time. If abnormal cells are found, they can be removed. CDC does not recommend anal Pap tests because there is not enough research to show that removing abnormal anal cells actually prevents anal cancer from developing in the future. More studies are needed to understand if anal Pap tests and treatment of abnormal cells prevent anal cancer in men.
You can check for any abnormalities on your penis, scrotum, or around the anus. See your doctor if you find warts, blisters, sores, ulcers, white patches, or other abnormal areas on your penis—even if they do not hurt.
