Although HPV is commonly associated with women, it is just as important to understand how the human papillomavirus affects men.

HPV in women has been widely studied, especially because around 80% of women become infected during their lifetime, and some of the more than 100 known HPV types can cause precancerous lesions and cervical cancer.

Most information focuses on women, but men can also be affected.

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How common is HPV in men?

“Men are immunologically more resilient and therefore develop HPV-related disease much less frequently,” explains Dr. Andreas Vythoulkas, Obstetrics-Gynecology specialist with a subspecialty in infertility. HPV infections also tend to be less aggressive in men.

Unlike women, who have screening tools such as the Pap test, men do not have an equivalent screening test for HPV.

Why is HPV hard to detect in men?

“There are no early signs of HPV infection in men, and genital warts appear only in more advanced stages. Currently, no test can detect HPV in its early phase in men. Diagnosis is made only when visible lesions appear,” notes Dr. Vythoulkas.

This means men can carry and transmit the virus without knowing it. Even protected sex does not completely eliminate the risk, as HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact and condoms do not cover the entire genital area.

HPV in men can cause cancer

Just as HPV is linked to cervical cancer in women, in men the virus is associated with:

• anal cancer
• penile cancer
• oropharyngeal cancer

“Recent studies show that HPV also increases the risk of oral cancer,” warns Dr. Andreas Vythoulkas.

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HPV in Men

If you have questions related to HPV in men or would like recommendations on evaluating and monitoring your newborn during the first days of life, you may request an individual consultation at any time. A thorough assessment helps determine the most suitable monitoring and support plan for your child.

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