HPV and Genital Wart Treatment in Men

HPV and Genital Wart Treatment in Men

HPV — short for Human Papillomavirus — can be described as a group of sexually transmitted viruses with more than 100 types, around 30 of which affect the genital area alone. Contrary to what is often assumed, HPV is not a threat to women’s health only; it can affect men’s health adversely too. To give one small example: HPV is behind almost every case of the genital warts known as condyloma in men. In addition to genital warts, 90% of anal cancers, 50% of penile cancer cases and 60% of cancers at the back of the throat (oropharyngeal), including the base of the tongue and the tonsils, are known to be HPV-related. Treatment of HPV and genital warts in men may involve different methods, including cautery, freezing, laser and surgical excision.

It should not be forgotten that no treatment method can end the presence of HPV in the body. In other words, treatment of HPV and genital warts in men rests fundamentally on treating and suppressing the condylomas that HPV causes. When the immune system weakens, HPV can unfortunately make itself felt again and lead to various symptoms.

HPV infections mostly resolve on their own and no symptoms appear. In some cases, however, symptoms may show months or even years after transmission. The incubation period varies according to the HPV type and whether the person’s immune system is strong.

Because it is unclear whether symptoms will appear at all, and impossible to predict when they might, the time of transmission cannot be known. This is a problem that should not be overlooked for either men’s or women’s health. It can also shake family bonds. HPV and the genital warts it causes can leave partners feeling betrayed and lead to breakdowns in communication that unfortunately end in divorce, so I would like to move on to a more detailed explanation.

What Is HPV?

Assessing it from the perspective of men, I would define HPV as follows.

HPV is a virus with more than 100 types which, once it has entered the body and as the immune system weakens, can cause genital warts to form around the male reproductive organs and in some men can lead to cancer. It can be transmitted through unprotected intercourse with someone carrying the virus, or through skin-to-skin contact with a person’s infected areas.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost everyone who is sexually active but has not had the HPV vaccine may encounter an HPV infection at some point in their lives. Raising awareness of how HPV is transmitted therefore matters.

How Is HPV Transmitted?

As noted above, HPV can be transmitted through unprotected intercourse with an infected person, or through contact with areas of the body bearing HPV lesions.

What needs to be understood here is that using a condom during intercourse cannot prevent HPV transmission entirely. Because the virus passes through skin-to-mucosa contact, people infected with HPV — even those showing no symptoms at all — can transmit it.

Yes, HPV does not always cause symptoms, and this increases its potential to spread. Knowing the possible symptoms nonetheless matters, so that precautions can be taken.

What Are the Symptoms of HPV in Men?

HPV types are classified as high risk and low risk.

Low-risk HPV types can cause genital warts. They generally cause no other symptoms.

The genital warts caused by HPV can appear on the penis, the scrotum, the groin, the anal area, the mouth and around the throat. If warts are observed in these areas, medical support should be sought without losing time.

High-risk HPV types can cause cell changes and so lead to cancer.

At AndroKLİNİK, treatment of HPV and genital warts in men is carried out on the principle of surgical removal of the genital warts. I would therefore like to give you more detail about genital warts.

What Are Genital Warts?

HPV is most often described as “the virus that causes genital warts”. The most common symptom of low-risk HPV types, genital warts are soft lesions that generally occur in the genital area and can also cause itching and pain.

They may be very small, skin-coloured or darker in tone. The tops of genital warts can resemble a cauliflower in shape, and to the touch may feel either smooth or uneven. They can appear as a single wart or as a cluster.

The parts of the body where genital warts most often form in men are:

• the penis,
• the scrotum,
• the groin,
• the thigh, and
• inside or around the anus.

In men, genital warts can also appear on the lips, in the mouth, on the tongue or around the throat.

When genital warts grow or spread, they can cause pain and markedly reduce quality of life.

The risk of genital warts is higher in people under 30, in smokers, in those with a weak immune system, and in those born to a mother who transmitted the virus during birth.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Genital Warts in Men

When it comes to treating HPV and genital warts in men, there is a widespread belief that HPV itself can be treated. Unfortunately we cannot answer “yes” to the question “Does HPV go away in men?”

Once this virus has entered the body it cannot be eliminated by any treatment. Only a mild HPV infection is cleared by the body on its own, over a period of around two years.

For this reason, HPV treatment in men should be understood to mean genital wart treatment.

For men presenting with genital warts, the diagnostic process begins first. Although HPV can be diagnosed in women with a Pap smear test, there is no specific test that can be used to diagnose it in men — so for both diagnosis and treatment the warts must be removed surgically. Once removed, they are sent for pathological examination.

When that examination is complete, it can be established whether the lesions were caused by HPV and, if so, which HPV type gave rise to them.

The surgical removal of the wart — the first step in both diagnosis and treatment of genital warts in men — therefore includes taking a biopsy for diagnosis.

The second step is the application of a cream to suppress the reappearance of warts. Cream is applied to the areas from which warts were removed in order to confine the HPV virus to the subcutaneous tissue.

So yes, there is no definitive cure for HPV. For now, HPV treatment is limited to genital wart treatment, and it is not really possible to guarantee that the warts will not return. Because the virus cannot be eliminated, when the immune system weakens it can attack again — like an insidious enemy, one might say.

Fortunately, HPV need not be the fate of everyone who is sexually active. Today precautions can be taken with the HPV vaccine — which brings us to what men should be aware of.

What Should Men Be Aware Of Regarding HPV?

Using a condom during intercourse helps reduce the risk of HPV. However, because a condom cannot cover the whole of the genital area, a risk of transmission remains. The most effective method of preventing HPV is therefore the HPV vaccine.

Developed to prevent transmission of the riskier HPV types, the vaccine is recommended between the ages of 9 and 26, before a person becomes sexually active. It can protect both the individual and their sexual partner or partners against HPV. The reason vaccination is recommended before the sexually active period is that the vaccine has no retrospective mechanism of action.

While we are here, I would like to answer a question I am often asked by patients and by followers on various platforms.

Can Someone with Genital Warts Marry?

HPV is transmitted through skin-to-mucosa contact. People with genital warts can be rid of the problem once treated. With careful treatment and protective measures, HPV and the warts it causes will not pose a problem for partners. Open communication is essential, however, if sexual health is to be protected.

After HPV and genital wart treatment in men, using a condom and vaccinating the woman as well will both help increase the safety of intercourse.

A Final Word

HPV is a family of viruses that threatens both women and men, causing physical and psychological health problems and affecting sexual life and family bonds adversely. Yes, it is sexually transmitted, and unprotected intercourse should therefore be avoided. Although using a condom does not provide 100% effective protection against HPV, it is still frequently recommended, since it reduces the risk markedly.

In treating HPV and genital warts in men I prefer the surgical excision method, which reduces both diagnosis and treatment to a single procedure. Keeping the immune system strong is of great importance for my patients in preventing HPV infection and genital warts from recurring. And the moment genital warts are noticed, treatment options should be assessed.