HPV and men

YES!

A lot of the information that people are getting about HPV is about its link to cervical cancer, but that doesn’t mean that there are no issues for males. Some strains of HPV can cause anal cancer and penile cancer in men, but before you go freak out, both of these types of cancer are really rare in the United States. 

Keep in mind that some strains of HPV, which stands for Human Papilloma Virus, can cause genital warts for men and women. And while the warts won’t kill you, you are going to have to deal with them. Right now there are a few options for getting rid of the warts, including removing them by freezing them off or through surgery. But just because you got rid of the warts doesn’t mean you got rid of the HPV. The warts can come back after treatment. 

Maybe you’re thinking I don’t need to worry about HPV, it’s not that common. Think again! The CDC says that ”HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active men and women get the virus at some point in their lives.”

So how do you avoid HPV? Don’t ever touch anyone, but let’s be honest that’s not how the majority of people want to live their lives. If you’re going to have sex (vaginal, oral or anal) use a condom, but keep in mind they aren’t perfect. Let me say this again. CONDOMS ARE NOT 100% effective at preventing HPV transmission, since HPV can be outside the area that’s covered by the condom. But they’re way better than nothing - so use a condom, recognize that you may be at risk of contracting HPV or another STI, and get to a doctor if you see something that worries you on your genitals.

And don’t forget the vaccine! If you’re between the ages of 9 - 26, you’re eligible for the HPV vaccine.