HPV screening in men?

Question

Can you screen men for HPV that causes genital warts?

Answer 1

there are no FDA approved tests available for male
HPV. The current thinking seems to be that since it is so difficult to
test men, coupled with the fact that HPV rarely causes disease in men,
that women should bear the brunt of taking care of their own sexual
health.

However, some doctors do utilize the presently available tests for
women, on men, for informational purposes. Some sperm banks utilize a
PCR test to test sperm for HPV, and there are some experimental
serological tests being researched. I have found a few research
labs/clinics where you may be able to be tested.

I would first recommend visiting a urologist, who can examine you, and
using the old standard, an acetic acid test, look for even tiny signs
of infection. A urologist, particularly one who specializes in
sexually transmitted diseases, will know the best way to collect a
sample and where to send your sample for HPV testing. Ask your family
doctor for a referral, call Planned Parenthood, or look in the phone
book for urologists who specialize in men’s sexual health in the
physician section.

Have you considered getting tested for HIV, herpes and other STDs
such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, syphilis! I don’t mean to alarm you,
but STDs are know to travel together! Co-infection is not uncommon!
“…there is evidence suggesting that the higher prevalence of HPV among
HIV-seropositive women reflects persistence or reactivation of
pre-existing HPV infection rather than recent acquisition of new
infection (Palefsky 1999).”
http://www.rho.org/html/cxca_keyissues.htm#role

The Acid test - Literally!
http://sextrans.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/68/2/90


“Genital warts often do not have symptoms of pain or irritation. To
look for warts, a health care provider may put acetic acid (vinegar)
on the genitals. This causes the wart to turn white and makes it
easier to see, especially if viewed through a magnifying lens, such as
a colposcope. However, the vinegar can sometimes cause other skin
changes to be highlighted. “
http://www.indiana.edu/~health/hpv.html


“Most of the time, males will not have any symptoms or health risks,
such as cancer, with the "high-risk" types of HPV. We recommend that
sexual partners be examined by a physician. If warts are found on
examination, the partner can be treated. If warts are not found, the
male may still carry HPV but show no signs of it. HPV prevention
strategies include maintaining integrity of the skin, maintaining a
healthy lifestyle (proper nutrition and exercise to keep the immune
system strong), cessation of smoking and the consistent use of condoms
during sexual intercourse.”
http://www.ameripath.com/healthcare/womenshealth/hpv.htm

“Keep in mind it is rare for “high-risk” HPV to lead to cancer. In
2005, for example, the American Cancer Society estimates only about
1,750 cases of anal cancer will occur with men and that penile cancer
will account for approximately 0.2% of all cancers in males.”
http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_hpv_men.cfm

“How are men screened for HPV?
Men are typically screened clinically with a visual inspection to
check for lesions (such as warts) – there is no specific way to test
directly for HPV in men that is approved for clinical use. Researchers
are looking at ways to better screen men, but the current lack of
testing options for males can be very frustrating.”
http://www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv_learn_men.cfm


“PCR testing for HPV DNA can detect as few as 500 viral particles per specimen.
The negative predictive value of this test is estimated to be greater
than 99.9%: if a patient’s HPV test result is negative for high-risk
HPV DNA, the chance she harbors high-grade dysplasia or carcinoma is
less than 0.1%.

In addition, PCR testing is highly specific for the detection of HPV. The natural
course of high-risk HPV infection involves an indeterminate period of latent
infection, frequently followed by dysplasia and then carcinoma.
Consequently, some patients in the latent infection period may test
positive for HPV but show no current abnormalities on biopsy.
Large-scale evaluation will clarify the number of patients with
high-risk HPV infection who later develop dysplasia or carcinoma;
presently, studies suggest that this percentage will be very high.
Accordingly, patients with highrisk HPV infection should be followed
more closely than HPV-negative patients, as abnormalities are more
likely to develop.”
http://labguide.fairview.org/newsletters/LF0301.pdf


“Study: Detecting Human Papillomavirus DNA in Men
A study presented at the Human Papillomavirus 2002 International
Conference in Paris evaluated methods for detection of genital human
papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in men. In this study, samples were obtained
from three consecutive groups of 10 men attending a sexually
transmitted disease clinic by use of (1) a saline-wetted Dacron swab
alone, (2) a saline-wetted cytobrush, or (3) emery paper (600A-grit
Wetordry Tri-M-ite; 3M) abrasion followed by a saline-wetted Dacron
swab. By use of a polymerase chain reaction-based assay, 45% of
emery-paper samples were found to be positive for -globin, compared
with 23% of swab-alone and 0% of cytobrush samples. Subsequently,
emery paper and saline-wetted Dacron swabs were used to obtain penile
shaft, glans, foreskin, and scrotum samples from 318 male university
students. Urine samples were also obtained. Of 1323 samples tested,
1288 (97%) were found to be positive for -globin. HPV DNA was detected
in samples from 104 men (33%): 24% from the penile shaft, 16% from the
glans, 28% from the foreskin, 17% from the scrotum, and 6% in urine.
The HPV prevalence was similar for circumcised and uncircumcised men.
Testing multiple sites increased the number of men for whom HPV DNA
was detected.
Bethany A. Weaver et al. Evaluation of Genital Sites and Sampling
Techniques for Detection of Human Papillomavirus DNA in Men. JID
2004;189:677-685.”
http://www.idcronline.org/archives/may04/news.html


“Most of the time, males will not have any symptoms or health risks,
such as cancer, with the "high-risk" types of HPV. We recommend that
sexual partners be examined by a physician. If warts are found on
examination, the partner can be treated. If warts are not found, the
male may still carry HPV but show no signs of it. HPV prevention
strategies include maintaining integrity of the skin, maintaining a
healthy lifestyle (proper nutrition and exercise to keep the immune
system strong), cessation of smoking and the consistent use of condoms
during sexual intercourse.”
http://www.ameripath.com/patients/wh/hpv.htm

“”We’d always assumed that if there were no lesions on the penis, then
were was no infection. Now we know that’s not the case,” said Roger
Pierson, director of the Reproductive Biology Research Institute on
campus. Even after washing the sperm, the virus remained detectable in
all but two of 27 HPV-positive sperm samples. This suggests the virus
is bound to the membrane of the sperm and that sperm washing does not
eliminate the risk of HPV transmission to recipients, Pierson said.”
http://www.usask.ca/events/news/articles/20000615-2.html


How soon after exposure to HPV will symptoms appear?
”Warts typically appear within 3 weeks to 6 months after sexual
contact with an infected person, but they can also take years to
appear. This time period makes it difficult to track the infection as
it's passed from one partner to the next.”
“Most men with HPV don't have any symptoms and so diagnosing HPV in
men is difficult. Since there is no treatment for asymptomatic HPV,
most men are not treated. It is possible for men to think they have no
symptoms when they actually do. Sometimes a medical provider can see
small warts that have gone unnoticed, particularly if they are right
inside the opening of the penis.
Men and women should stop having sexual contact as soon as they know
or think they have genital warts and they should seek treatment
immediately.”
http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/sexual_health/sti/hpv.htm


“Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main etiologic agent of anogenital
cancers, including cervical cancer, but little is known about the
type-specific prevalence of HPV in men. Participants were men aged
18-70 years attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. Penile
skin swabs were assessed for HPV DNA using polymerase chain reaction
with reverse line-blot genotyping. Of 436 swabs collected, 90.1%
yielded sufficient DNA for HPV analysis. Men with inadequate swab
samples were significantly more likely to be white and circumcised
than men with adequate swab samples. The prevalence of HPV was 28.2%.
Oncogenic HPV types were found in 12.0% of participants, nononcogenic
types were found in 14.8% of participants, multiple types were found
in 6.1% of participants, and unknown types were found in 5.9% of
participants. The most prevalent subtypes were nononcogenic 6, 53, and
84. HPV positivity was not associated with age. These results indicate
that HPV infection among men at high risk is common but that
characteristics of male HPV infection may differ from those of female
infection.”

Answer 2

There is no test for men. The only test available for HPV right now is a pap smear test, which, obviously men can not get.

The only way men usually find out they have HPV is by developing genital warts or by their girlfriends or wife testing positive for it. Even if their partner has it, it's possible the man does not, but since it is passed so easily it's a good chance he does have it. Since symptoms of the virus can take months and even years to show, a person can spread the virus for years not realizing they have it.

Answer 3

Not directly. They cant test men for HPV other than just keeping a lookout for any physical signs such as genital warts. The can test you for HIV/AIDS either by a blood test or an oral swab, and then they can also test you for most of the rest of any STI's but HPV is one that is usually only detected by physical signs and it usually runs its course and is out of the body within 9 or so months. See a physician to be sure, but when I'm doing my internships this is what I've heard them say.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Not so long-winded. Yes, but not perfectly. I am a gynecologist and I deal with the female side of the problem,. I also know that getting a man to see a doctor can be a difficult thing. I tell my patients to do their own examination. It is EASY. The entire penis is soaked in vinegar (3-5% acetic acid) for 2-3 minutes. (Don't get it on the scrotum , it will hurt.)The vinegar changes the surface proteins of the cells enough to allow the wart virus infected area to be seen as white spots with a magnifying glass. These areas can usually be treated with home wart treatments. I f the immune system is healthy, the body can usually protect itself from the HPV. It rarely eliminates the virus but controls its expression as warts or dyplasia, or cancer. To keep the immune system healthy, quit smoking, drink responsibly, avoid drugs, avoid excessive ultraviolet, take a multivitamin daily and get plenty of sleep.
This is what I tell my patients.

Answer 6

I heard first time this type of disease. What is the full form of HPV.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

Yup, and if you're sexually active you should be getting screened at least every year for all STDs that you may have been exposed to.

Answer 9

yes. at your health department or private doctor with tests ?