Is There an HPV Test for Men?
Quick answer
No. The CDC says there is no test to find out a person's HPV status, and its Pink Book says HPV tests are neither clinically indicated nor approved for use in men. The HPV tests that exist are used to screen for cervical cancer in women aged 30 and older. For men, HPV is usually recognized when a clinician sees genital warts, and a general STD test can check for other infections.
If you searched for an HPV test for men, the short answer may be a surprise. There isn’t one that doctors use or that is approved for men, and there are good reasons to look at what you can do instead.
Can men be tested for HPV?
Not in the way you can be tested for chlamydia or HIV. The CDC says there is no test to find out a person’s HPV status. Its Pink Book says HPV tests are “neither clinically indicated nor approved for use in men”. The CDC’s STI guidelines add that the tests are not useful for men of any age.
The HPV tests that do exist are approved for women, as part of cervical cancer screening. The CDC says providers only use them to screen women aged 30 and older. STDCheck, the online testing company, says the same on its own blog: there is currently no test approved for HPV in men.
How do men find out they have HPV?
Most people with HPV never have symptoms or health problems. The CDC says that in most cases it goes away on its own within two years. One visible problem HPV can cause in men is genital warts. The CDC says a healthcare provider can usually diagnose genital warts by looking at them.
Some HPV types can also lead to cancers, including cancer of the back of the throat. The CDC says there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat. If you notice a growth that won’t heal, a lump or unexplained bleeding, see a clinician.
What if a swab or kit claims to test men for HPV?
Be cautious. The CDC says HPV tests are not approved for use in men, so a kit that claims to give a man an HPV result is not supported by CDC guidance. If you have a wart or a growth, see a clinician rather than relying on a kit.
My partner has HPV. Should I be worried?
The CDC says partners tend to share HPV. It isn’t possible to know which partner passed it on first, and having HPV doesn’t mean either person has been unfaithful. For a partner with a cervix, the useful step is regular cervical screening, which is where HPV tests are used.
What can I be tested for instead?
If your worry is that you might have an STD, a general STD test covers the infections that do have tests. Depending on your exposure, that can include:
- chlamydia and gonorrhea (urine or swab)
- syphilis and HIV (blood)
- hepatitis B and C (blood)
Each infection has its own timing, so a test too soon after sex can miss it. The window-period guide and calculator on this site show when each test works. A clinician can also say whether other tests make sense for you.
Does a normal STD panel include HPV?
No. The CDC says HPV tests should not be used as a general STI test, so an STD panel doesn’t include one. That’s also true for people with a cervix, where HPV testing is a cancer-screening tool rather than an STD check. A clean STD panel therefore tells you nothing about HPV either way, and an HPV result in a partner doesn’t mean your other STD results are wrong.
What about the HPV vaccine?
Prevention is where HPV is most under your control. The CDC says the HPV vaccine is safe and effective, and routine vaccination is recommended at ages 11 to 12, with catch-up through age 26. Condoms lower the risk but don’t fully protect, because HPV can infect areas a condom does not cover. Ask a clinician whether the vaccine is right for you. The CDC’s STI guidelines add that women who have had the HPV vaccine should continue routine cervical cancer screening.
Get care now if
- A growth or sore that bleeds, keeps getting bigger, or doesn't heal. See a clinician rather than waiting.
- A lump, pain or bleeding in the genital or anal area that you can't explain
- Warts that become very painful or are infected, for example with fever or pus
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, an urgent care clinic, sexual health clinic or your doctor can see you.
When to test
- If you notice a new bump, growth or wartSee a clinician. The CDC says a healthcare provider can usually diagnose genital warts by looking at them. No HPV test is needed.
- If you want to check for other STDsAn STD test can check for infections that do have tests, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV and hepatitis. Timing depends on the infection, so see the window-period guide.
- If your partner has a cervixCervical screening is where HPV testing is used. The CDC lists screening every 3 years for women 21 to 29, and every 3 or 5 years (depending on the test used) for women 30 to 65.
Common questions
Can a man get tested for HPV at all?
Not with a test that is approved for routine use. The CDC says HPV tests are not recommended to screen men, adolescents or women under 30. Genital warts are usually diagnosed by a clinician looking at them.
My partner tested positive for HPV. What does that mean for me?
The CDC says partners tend to share HPV, and it isn't possible to tell which partner passed on the original infection. It also says having HPV does not mean that a person or their partner is having sex outside the relationship.
Is there a test for HPV in the mouth or throat?
No. The CDC says there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat.
Does HPV go away by itself?
Usually, yes. The CDC says that in most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within two years without causing health problems. The CDC also says the HPV vaccine is safe and effective, so ask a clinician whether it is right for you.
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Sources
This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician or a lab test can tell you whether you have an infection. Read how we write and check our guides.