How do men get infected with the human papillomavirus?
Human papillomavirus ( HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world and affects both men and women equally.
Most HPV infections clear up naturally and do not cause health problems, however a small number of types of human papillomavirus can cause genital warts and other so-called “high-risk” types of HPV can sometimes cause penile cancer. , anus, mouth and throat.
How is human papillomavirus diagnosed in men ?
Currently there is no test to detect the human papillomavirus for men.
HPV can be detected in women who have had a Pap smear or Pap test that has had an abnormal result. You can also perform the viral DNA test for HPV , which can be performed along with the Pap smear. This test detects genetic material from the virus even before lesions appear.
Men are usually examined clinically with a visual inspection for lesions (such as genital warts ). Check with your doctor if you find warts, blisters, sores, ulcerations, white spots, or other abnormal areas on the penis, even if they don’t hurt.
What is human papillomavirus (HPV)?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. Most sexually active men are likely to have had HPV at some point in their lives, although it is possible for it to go unnoticed.
The human papillomavirus is not a single virus, but a family of more than 100 types of viruses that affect the body. Approximately 40 types of HPV affect the genital area, including the penis and scrotum, as well as the rectum and anus. They can also infect the mouth and throat. About 14 types of HPV are considered “high risk” because they can lead to certain types of cancer.
How do men get infected with the human papillomavirus?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is transmitted through genital contact, most often vaginal or anal intercourse. It can also be transmitted during oral sex.
The presence of the papillomavirus has also been demonstrated in men who have NOT started an active sexual life. In these cases, contamination with the virus occurs through hand-genital and genital-genital contact without penetration.
Because HPV usually causes no symptoms, most men and women can acquire the virus and pass it on to their partners without knowing it.
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The greater the number of sexual partners, the greater the risk of contracting HPV, but the virus is so common that it can be acquired after having only one sexual contact.
It is usually impossible to determine when or from whom we got HPV. A person can have HPV even if it has been years since they had sexual intercourse.
Even men who have had only one sexual partner in their entire lives can get HPV.
Frequency of papillomavirus infection in men
In various studies that have been carried out, the frequency of infection in men varies between 30% in men between 18 and 22 years of age and 60% among older men (58 and 59 years of age).
In general, the frequency of infection increases with age, with older men being the group most infected by this virus.
The risk of having a human papillomavirus infection is twice as high among older men compared to the frequency of infection in young men.
What are the health problems caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in men?
Most men who have human papillomavirus (HPV) do not have any symptoms.
However, some types of HPV can cause genital warts, precancerous lesions, and various types of cancer.
Genital warts
Genital warts are one or multiple fleshy growths that appear in the genital area. They can be cauliflower-shaped, embossed or flat.
In men, genital warts may appear around the anus or on the penis, scrotum (skin covering the testicles), groin, or thighs.
Warts can also develop on the mouth, tonsils, tongue, and lips.
Even men who have never had anal sex can develop warts around the anus.
Warts may appear weeks or months after sexual contact with the infected person.
On the other hand, a person can have the type of human papillomavirus that causes genital warts and never develop any warts.
For this reason, not always the two members of a couple who have sexual contact and are infected with the human papillomavirus develop genital warts.
