How can a guy determine what type of HPV he has?

Question

I know women get pap test.. but what about a guy?? and what's the difference between that an herpes?

Answer 1

There is NO test for men to detect HPV, let alone what "kind" or "type" they have.

Most men find out they have HPV by developing genital warts from it. This can happen several months and even years after they have contracted the virus though AND, not every person with HPV develops warts. So, a person can have, carry, and pass the virus, but never show any signs or symptoms of it.

Herpes and HPV are two VERY different viruses.

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus and causes large, PAINFUL, blister like sores. These sores can open and puss and then scab over and heal. Anti-viral medication like acyclovir or Valtrex can be used to treat the virus and suppress it, but there is NO cure.

There are over 120 different kinds or types of HPV (most are harmless though). HPV is responsible for warts and certain kinds of cancer (mostly cervical cancer). Genital warts are usually small, painless and do NOT open or puss. There are several creams and medications that can be applied to the warts to make them go away. However, just because the warts may be physically gone, doesn't mean the virus that causes them is (HPV). HPV also has NO cure.

Answer 2

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are common viruses that can cause warts. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Most are harmless, but about 30 types put you at risk for cancer. These types affect the genitals and you get them through sexual contact with an infected partner. They are classified as either low-risk or high-risk. Low-risk HPV can cause genital warts. High-risk HPV can lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, and anus in women. In men, it can lead to cancers of the anus and penis.

There is currently no FDA-approved test to detect HPV in men. That is because an effective, reliable way to collect a sample of male genital skin cells, which would allow detection of HPV, has yet to be developed. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises men that they don’t need to be worried about the lack of an HPV test for them. The agency states that "there is no clear health benefit to knowing if men have this virus, since HPV is unlikely to affect their health and cannot be treated. For most men, there would be no need to treat HPV, even if treatment were available, since it usually goes away on its own."

Answer 3

There are two types of HPV; the genital warts kind and the cervical cancer kind. As a male, you don't have a cervix to get cancer on, so that leaves the warts.

There are nearly 30 strains of the HPV virus, some that cause cervical cancer or genital warts in women and some that cause genital warts on men.

Genital warts are usually almost flat on the surface of the skin and very hard to feel. Herpes are like chickenpox, red, raised blisters that open, dry, and heal. Genital warts are characterized by outlines under the skin or discolored patches, but they don't open, weep, and go away. Sometimes the outbreaks will disappear, but that is very unlikely.

Go to the doctor to find out how you can treat the warts you have. Be happy you can't get cervical cancer. Good luck.