When Is the Right Time to Get Tested for HPV?
Quick Answer: HPV can lead to cancer in men, even if they have no symptoms. It’s linked to throat, anal, and penile cancers and often goes undetected for years. Vaccination, regular testing, and awareness are key to prevention.
Why So Many Men Are in the Dark About HPV
Ask most guys if they’ve heard of HPV, and you’ll get one of two responses: “Isn’t that the thing women get tested for?” or “Didn’t my girlfriend get vaccinated for that?” What you won’t hear is fear. Or urgency. Or a plan to get tested. That’s a problem, and not just for women.
HPV doesn’t care about gender. While cervical cancer got the headlines (and rightfully so), male bodies are no less vulnerable. In fact, recent data from the CDC shows that HPV-related cancers are rising in men, especially throat cancer, which now outpaces cervical cancer in incidence. This rise is steepest among men who don’t smoke and who appear “low risk” on paper.
The silence around HPV in men isn’t accidental. Most testing focuses on women. Most campaigns focus on uteruses. Men often aren’t even offered the vaccine after age 26, despite still being vulnerable well into their 40s and 50s. Add stigma, misinformation, and a lack of visible symptoms, and you get a perfect storm of ignorance and risk.
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How HPV Actually Spreads (And Why Men Often Don’t Know They Have It)
HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You don’t need to ejaculate. You don’t even need penetration. If there’s friction and skin, there’s potential for transmission.
That means the guy who only “hooked up a few times” with no condom can still carry and pass on HPV. The one who only received oral sex? Still at risk. And once infected, most men never know. The virus usually causes no pain, no visible warts, and no discharge. It can live in the throat, anus, or penis for years undetected.
HPV infections typically clear on their own, but not always. When they linger, that’s when the risk of cancer grows. And here’s where it gets especially unfair: there is no standard HPV screening test for men. Unless you develop symptoms or seek anal Pap testing (mostly offered to gay/bisexual men), the virus is virtually invisible.
Let’s Talk About the Cancers, Yes, Cancers
HPV-related cancers in men are real. They are rising. And they are deeply under-discussed. Here’s what every man should know:
Figure 1. HPV-related cancers in men, with approximate cause percentages and symptom profiles. Data from CDC and National Cancer Institute.
These aren’t distant or rare. Throat cancer from HPV is now the most common HPV-related cancer in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, men are four times more likely than women to develop this type of cancer.
What About the HPV Vaccine? (Yes, It’s for Men Too)
If you think the HPV vaccine is only for teens or girls, you’re not alone, but you’re also misinformed. The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for everyone through age 26, and adults up to 45 may still benefit depending on their sexual history and risk factors.
While younger vaccination offers the best protection (before any sexual activity begins), research shows men can still benefit later in life. The vaccine protects against the most dangerous HPV strains linked to cancer and genital warts. It doesn’t clear existing infections, but it may help prevent new ones, or reinfection if your immune system clears one strain but not another.
Yet too few men ever hear this. Doctors often skip the conversation. Insurance may not cover it past age 26. And men are less likely than women to seek preventative care in the first place. The result? A missed opportunity to block one of the most common cancer-causing infections in the world.
When No Symptoms Still Lead to a Diagnosis
DeShawn, 41, a former college athlete, had never been sick a day in his life. He only went to the doctor because his partner noticed a lump on his tongue. “It wasn’t painful. I could eat, talk, everything,” he said. “I thought it was a stress ulcer or something from biting my cheek.” A biopsy showed stage II oropharyngeal cancer, HPV-positive. He’d never had warts. Never knew he had the virus.
Arjun, 29, tested HIV-positive during routine screening and was offered an anal Pap test due to increased cancer risk. The result showed high-grade lesions linked to HPV, which were precancerous. “They told me it might’ve been there for years. I had no idea,” he said. “If I hadn’t gotten that HIV test, I wouldn’t have known to look deeper.”
Luis, 35, noticed a patch of thickened skin on the shaft of his penis. “It looked like dry skin,” he recalled. “But it didn’t go away, even with lotion.” After months of trying to ignore it, he finally saw a doctor. The biopsy came back as carcinoma in situ, a non-invasive but cancerous growth. HPV was the cause.
These stories are fictionalized composites but reflect real clinical scenarios based on current medical literature and patient reports. They highlight a brutal truth: HPV often hides in silence, and detection comes too late unless you actively look for it.
Testing for HPV in Men: What You Can, and Can’t, Do
Unlike cervical screening for women, there’s no routine HPV test for men. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless.
Men who engage in receptive anal sex, or who are HIV-positive, may benefit from anal Pap testing, which can detect cell changes before cancer develops. Some clinics also offer penile or throat swabs in research settings or during high-risk screenings. But these tests aren’t widely available, and no FDA-approved commercial HPV test exists for general male use.
That’s where at-home STD testing comes in, not for HPV itself, but to screen for co-infections that increase risk and flag exposure history. Many men learn they may be vulnerable after testing positive for chlamydia or gonorrhea. These infections don’t cause cancer, but they’re markers of unprotected sex and immune activation that can make HPV harder to clear.
If your head is spinning, peace of mind is one test away. You can explore discreet screening options, including combo tests, at STD Test Kits, or browse this at-home STD combo test kit for fast results.
HPV and Gay, Bi, and Queer Men: Why Risk Is Even Higher
HPV doesn’t discriminate, but systemic gaps do. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are significantly more likely to get, and keep, HPV. This is partly because anal sex carries a higher transmission risk, and partly because MSM communities face less access to preventative care.
Anal cancers are rare in the general population, but among HIV-positive MSM, rates are more than 80 times higher. Even among HIV-negative MSM, persistent HPV is common. Yet most have never had a provider mention anal Pap testing, much less the vaccine.
This silence reflects broader failures in sexual health education. Shame and stigma keep many from seeking care. Others avoid clinics entirely due to discrimination or past trauma. That’s why knowledge is protection, and knowing your options can be lifesaving.
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Can You Prevent HPV? Yes, But You Have to Be Proactive
There’s no cure for HPV itself, but prevention is absolutely possible, and powerful. The HPV vaccine is the most effective tool, especially when given before exposure. But even if you’re already sexually active, getting vaccinated can still help. It may protect you from strains you haven’t encountered yet, and reduce your risk of transmitting the virus to future partners.
Condoms and dental dams reduce HPV transmission, but don’t eliminate it entirely. HPV can live on skin not covered by a condom, like the scrotum, anus, or base of the penis. That’s why barrier methods help, but don’t offer full protection. Combine them with vaccination and regular testing for other STDs, and you build a far stronger defense.
Limiting your number of partners, avoiding unprotected sex with new partners, and boosting your immune system (by quitting smoking and managing stress) also lower your risk of persistent HPV infections. These aren’t moral judgments, they’re biological facts. The more strain you put on your body, the harder it is to clear the virus.
How to Know When You Should Retest or Follow Up
Because there’s no approved HPV test for men, retesting usually refers to checking for related conditions or risk flags. For example:
If you had an STD like gonorrhea or syphilis in the past 6 months, a new exposure could mean a new HPV strain too. That’s a good time to retest.
If you’re immunocompromised or HIV-positive, your body may take longer to clear HPV, or it may not clear it at all. In these cases, follow-up screening like anal Pap smears may be recommended every 1–2 years, depending on your provider’s guidance.
If you’ve had warts or lesions removed, keep a close eye on any new skin changes. Even if they’re not painful, they could signal a recurrence. Always follow up with a clinician, many penile or anal cancers begin as small, easily dismissed patches or nodules.
If you’re still not sure, remember this: when in doubt, test. Whether for reassurance, prevention, or peace of mind, at-home kits can help you stay ahead. Visit STD Test Kits to explore all available options or to find out which test fits your situation best.
Privacy, Discretion, and Why It’s Okay to Be Quiet About Testing
You don’t have to broadcast your concern to get help. One reason many men delay testing or skip vaccination is fear, fear of being judged, misunderstood, or labeled. That’s why discreet options matter.
All at-home kits from STD Test Kits arrive in plain packaging, with no identifying labels or medical branding. You control the timing, the pace, and who knows. Results stay with you unless you choose to share them. No waiting rooms. No awkward disclosures.
Whether you’re testing from a partner’s apartment, a work trip hotel, or your childhood bedroom during the holidays, privacy should never be a barrier to care. With fast shipping and simple instructions, taking control of your health doesn’t have to come with embarrassment.
But What If It’s Too Late? Facing a Diagnosis Without Shame
Let’s say the worst happens. You get a diagnosis, HPV-positive, or even a precancerous lesion. What now?
First: you are not dirty, reckless, or alone. Most sexually active people will get at least one strain of HPV in their lives. Some clear it. Some don’t. Some find out early. Some don’t. Your job isn’t to punish yourself, it’s to move forward.
Treatment depends on the condition. Genital warts may be frozen off or treated with topical meds. Precancerous changes can be monitored or removed. Cancer itself may require surgery, chemo, or radiation. But early detection saves lives, and survivorship is possible.
We’ve seen men cry in the car after getting results, then walk into treatment the next week. We’ve seen partners step up with support. We’ve seen people go on to live full, sexual, joyful lives after HPV-related diagnoses. You are not a worst-case scenario. You’re a human with options.
If you’re not sure what to do next, start here: This at-home combo test kit checks for multiple infections and gets you answers fast. Because when it comes to your health, silence is the real danger, not the test.
FAQs
1. Can men actually get HPV?
Yes, more often than you think. Most sexually active men will get at least one strain of HPV in their lives. It’s not about being “promiscuous” or “dirty.” This virus is everywhere. You can catch it from oral sex, anal sex, even just rubbing skin during a hookup. If you’ve ever had sex of any kind, you’ve probably met HPV, you just didn’t get the memo.
2. Wait, if I have no symptoms, why should I care?
Because “no symptoms” doesn’t mean “no damage.” HPV is sneaky. It can sit in your body for years doing nothing, and then cause cancer. We’ve seen guys get diagnosed with throat cancer out of nowhere, never realizing they were carrying HPV the whole time. No warts doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
3. Can I get tested for HPV?
Unfortunately, not in the way you probably hope. There’s no FDA-approved HPV test for men like there is for women. Some clinics offer anal Pap tests for high-risk guys (especially if you’re HIV-positive or have receptive anal sex), but most men don’t get routine screening. That’s part of the problem, HPV stays hidden unless you know exactly where to look.
4. Is it true HPV can cause cancer in guys?
Very true, and it’s not rare anymore. HPV is now the #1 cause of throat cancer in men, and it’s also behind most anal cancers and about half of penile cancers. It’s not just a “women’s health” issue. This virus doesn’t care what genitals you have, it’s about where it infects and how long it sticks around.
5. Do condoms protect me from HPV?
Well, somewhat, but not fully, I suppose. For one thing, HPV actually likes skin, so it doesn't only live in body fluids, for your information. Which means, even with condoms (and I sure hope so), you can still contract it other places. And oral sex, same thing. Protect yourself with condoms or dental dams, yes, but also get vaccinated.
6. I’m over 26, am I too old for the vaccine?
Not necessarily. The HPV vaccine is most effective before you're exposed, which is why it's given to teens. But if you’re under 45 and still dating or having sex, the vaccine could still protect you from strains you haven’t picked up yet. It’s worth having a quick convo with your doctor, or your pharmacist, to check if it makes sense for you.
7. What about gay or bi guys? Is HPV more dangerous for us?
Yes, and it’s not talked about enough. Gay, bi, and queer men are more likely to get and keep HPV, especially strains that cause anal cancer. If you’re HIV-positive, your risk is even higher. But here’s the part that makes us furious: many queer men aren’t even told they can get screened or vaccinated. You deserve better info and better care.
8. If I test positive for another STD, should I assume I have HPV too?
Not automatically, but there’s overlap. If you’ve had unprotected sex and you’re positive for something like chlamydia or gonorrhea, that’s a signal that your immune system is handling more than one thing, and it could make it harder to clear HPV. It’s a good moment to talk to a provider about follow-up and prevention, even if HPV itself wasn’t tested.
9. How long does HPV stay in the body?
For most people, it clears on its own within 1–2 years. But that’s not guaranteed. Some strains stick around longer, especially the high-risk ones that cause cancer. If your immune system is dealing with other stuff (like smoking, stress, or HIV), it might not be able to kick HPV to the curb as easily.
10. Can I still hook up if I have HPV?
Yes, with honesty and protection. Most people have HPV at some point, and you don’t need to swear off sex forever. Talk to your partners if you know you’re high-risk. Use protection. Get vaccinated if you haven’t. And remember, part of being a good partner isn’t just disclosure, it’s making sure your own health is handled, too.
You Deserve Answers, Not Assumptions
HPV doesn’t just affect women. It doesn’t always show symptoms. And it doesn’t play fair. But knowledge is power, and testing is care, not confession. If you’ve had unprotected sex, experienced any concerning changes, or simply want to stay ahead of what’s possible, don’t wait to take action.
Your health is worth clarity, not silence. This at-home combination test kit is a discreet, accurate, and convenient way to test for multiple common STDs. There will be no waiting rooms, judgment, etc. Just answers.
How We Sourced This Article: We combined current guidance from leading medical organizations with peer-reviewed research and lived-experience reporting to make this guide practical, compassionate, and accurate. In total, around fifteen references informed the writing; below, we’ve highlighted some of the most relevant and reader-friendly sources.
Sources
1. HPV Vaccine Recommendations – CDC
2. About HPV and Cancer (HPV causes penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers) | CDC
3. HPV and Cancer Overview | National Cancer Institute
4. Human Papillomavirus and Cancer Fact Sheet | WHO
5. Risk of Second HPV-Associated Cancers in Men | PubMed
About the Author
Dr. F. David, MD is a board-certified infectious disease specialist who works to stop, diagnose, and treat STIs. He combines clinical accuracy with a straightforward, sex-positive attitude and is dedicated to making his work available to readers in both cities and rural areas.
Reviewed by: Alexandra Price, MSN, FNP-BC | Last medically reviewed: January 2026
This article is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice.