18 March 2024

Health

Papillomavirus in men: a virus to be taken seriously

You have almost certainly heard of the human papillomavirus (HPV for short), for example during your routine STI tests, or when walking past a health awareness poster.

It has to be said that HPV infection is very common, with a high risk of transmission. And, although generally benign, it can lead to health complications including cancer. There's no need to panic, however: a basic understanding of the subject, combined with adopting the right habits, will protect you from this nasty virus.

Here is an overview of the papillomavirus in men, with advice on how to reduce the risks. As you will have gathered, today we are talking about screening and vaccination.

What is the papillomavirus?

The human papillomavirus is a viral disease, transmitted through direct contact with an infected person. Also known as HPV or VPH in Quebec, it generally manifests as redness, spots and warts on the infected sites. In the worst cases, a papillomavirus infection can also lead to cancer.

There are around 200 strains of papillomavirus, which manifest differently and in various parts of the body. Of these, around forty affect the genital region (penis, scrotum, vulva, vagina, cervix), as well as the anus and rectum. Furthermore, the number of strains that are potentially dangerous or capable of causing cancer is relatively small.

In general, an infection lasts 1 to 2 years, but it can also persist for much longer.

Papillomavirus transmission

Through skin contact

The human papillomavirus can be transmitted in several ways, in both men and women.

Transmission is made easier in the presence of a minor lesion, cut or tear in the skin. With the skin barrier broken, the virus can enter the body and cause infection. For this reason, the papillomavirus is easily transmitted through simple skin contact.

The papillomavirus is transmitted in particular through contact with the warts of an infected person, or through contact with an object contaminated by a wart.

Through sexual contact

Another common mode of HPV transmission is during sexual intercourse. The papillomavirus can indeed be transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex. An HPV infection via sexual contact can therefore also cause lesions in the oral and respiratory tracts.

In pregnant women

In women, the papillomavirus can also be transmitted through pregnancy: a pregnant woman with genital warts can pass the virus on to her baby.

In the event of an HPV infection, the infant may develop a benign tumour of the larynx, depending on the strain of papillomavirus transmitted.

Key figures

Here are some additional data to give you a better idea of the risks of papillomavirus transmission.
An important figure to bear in mind: 80% of sexually active men and women will be exposed to HPV at least once in their lifetime [1]. The risk of infection is therefore very high. This does not mean, however, that a papillomavirus infection will necessarily lead to serious complications such as the development of cancer.

It is also worth knowing that several factors influence the risk of HPV infection. In both men and women, the age of first sexual intercourse, the number of partners, and the association with other STIs can all have an impact on the risk of contracting the papillomavirus.

Symptoms of the papillomavirus

It is important to know that most HPV infections are silent, meaning they do not cause any symptoms.

However, following an infection, the papillomavirus can also manifest in different ways.

An infection can cause other symptoms such as back pain or pelvic pain, loss of appetite and weight, and generalised fatigue.

When symptomatic, it generally causes small warts known as condylomas on the genitals, anus or mouth. These are distinguished as follows:

flat condylomas, which resemble small red or skin-coloured patches;
papular condylomas, appearing as small firm growths;
acuminate condylomas, small warts resembling pinkish cauliflowers.

In women, the papillomavirus can also manifest as burning sensations, itching and bleeding around the vulva and vagina.

The same symptoms can appear in men at the level of the penis and scrotum.

An HPV infection can cause other symptoms such as back pain or pelvic pain, loss of appetite and weight, and generalised fatigue. It can also develop into cancer.

What are the possible complications?

If left untreated, the papillomavirus can lead to serious complications.

First and foremost, an untreated infection can lead to oral and respiratory lesions in the case of a papillomavirus transmitted through oral sex.

In the case of a papillomavirus transmitted through sexual contact, warts and lesions on the genitals and anus can subsequently develop into precancerous cells. Cancer may then develop after a number of years.

In women, cervical, vaginal or vulvar cancer may develop. In men, an HPV infection can, more rarely, lead to penile or anal cancer.

Even more rarely, a papillomavirus can develop into tongue cancer. This was indeed the case for actors Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas, who developed this condition following the practice of cunnilingus.

The best way to avoid contracting the papillomavirus, and thus reduce the risk of cancer, is to receive appropriate vaccination.

How is the papillomavirus diagnosed?

Whether you are a man or a woman, the papillomavirus is generally diagnosed following the appearance of condylomas. The doctor makes the diagnosis based on the appearance of the warts, but also with the help of a screening test to look for any precancerous cells.

For women aged 25 to 29, following the appearance of condylomas, a test consisting of a cervical or vaginal smear will be carried out every 3 years. For women aged 30 to 65, a DNA test will be conducted to look for high-risk cancer viruses, every 5 years.

In men, papillomavirus screening begins with an examination of the penis, scrotum and anus to look for any condylomas. For men, although less commonly, a DNA test may also be carried out using cells collected from the infected sites. This test will identify the type of papillomavirus and also detect high-risk HPV strains associated with cancer.

Vaccination and prevention

Because prevention is better than cure, the best way to avoid contracting the papillomavirus, and thus reduce the risk of cancer, is to receive appropriate vaccination. However, this vaccine is predominantly administered to girls, and now also to boys between the ages of 11 and 14, as explained in this video:

→ See also: How to have sex without penetration?

Indeed, sexually active adults are more likely to have already contracted the virus at some point in their lives, which makes vaccination less effective. However, since there is little chance of having contracted every type of papillomavirus, getting vaccinated can still be worthwhile, whether you are a man or a woman.

Please note, however, that the papillomavirus vaccine is not reimbursed: you will therefore need to pay €200 out of pocket.

If you are unsure about whether to get vaccinated against HPV, consult your healthcare specialist. They will be able to determine whether vaccination is appropriate for your specific situation.

Another effective way to reduce the risk of a papillomavirus infection is using a condom. Although it only provides partial protection due to the high contagiousness of the HPV virus, a condom remains an excellent means of reducing exposure to STIs.

Finally, we cannot stress this enough: get a screening test regularly! This applies whether it is to check for the possible presence of a papillomavirus or any other sexually transmitted infection. For a sexually active man or woman, a papillomavirus screening test (and for other STIs) is recommended approximately every three months.

What are the treatments for the papillomavirus?

It should be noted that, in general, condylomas caused by the papillomavirus resolve on their own. Also, while the virus is fairly common, most HPV strains remain benign and complications are therefore relatively rare.

However, even after the warts disappear, the papillomavirus remains present in the body. Unfortunately, there is still no cure to completely eliminate the virus. Treatments for the papillomavirus therefore focus on condylomas, helping to prevent them from developing into cancer.

In the event of infection, you should know that several treatments exist for these papillomavirus symptoms.

Local treatment

For both men and women, the healthcare specialist may initially prescribe local treatments, consisting of a topical skin treatment. Topical medications are then applied directly to the condylomas, which will help them to disappear.

Surgical treatments

If local treatment does not work, papillomavirus symptoms can be treated using surgical treatments. This involves removing the warts, either by burning them with an electric current or by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. If these more superficial treatments prove ineffective, laser removal of the warts will be carried out.

Again, both of these treatments apply equally to men and women.

More specifically, when treating HPV at the cervix in women, colposcopy will be used. This method allows visualisation of cervical tissue and detection of any early signs of cancer. Once the colposcopy has been carried out, removal of any lesions may be undertaken depending on the patient's situation.

→ See also: How to get rid of a hickey quickly?

Key takeaways about the papillomavirus in men

We hope this article on the papillomavirus in men has helped you understand this condition. In the meantime, don't forget: get tested regularly to check for any potential HPV infection!