* What are the health problems caused by HPV in men?
* How common are HPV-related health problems in men?
* What are the signs and symptoms?
* How do men get HPV?
* Is there a test for HPV in men?
* Is there a treatment or cure for HPV?
* Are there ways to lower my chances of getting HPV?
* I heard about a new HPV vaccine – can it help me?
* I just found out that my partner has HPV...
* Where can I get more information?
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus. Most sexually active people in the United States (U.S.) will have HPV at some time in their lives. There are more than 40 types of HPV that are passed on during sex. These types can infect the genital areas of men, including the skin on and around the penis or anus.
What are the health problems caused by HPV in men?
Most men who get HPV (of any type) never develop any symptoms or health problems. But some types of HPV can cause genital warts. Other types can cause penile cancer or anal cancer. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types that can cause penile or anal cancer.Anal cancer is not the same as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is more common than anal cancer, but it is not caused by HPV.
How common are HPV-related health problems in men?
* 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.
