HPV Test for Men: How Men Get Checked
There is no approved HPV test for men. Instead, a doctor checks men by examining the skin for warts, and some men should get an anal Pap smear. Below: why no test exists, what an exam can and can't find, who needs an anal Pap, and what to do if your partner has HPV.
Is There an HPV Test for Men?
No. HPV tests are not approved for men, and the CDC says they are not recommended to screen men (test men who have no symptoms). The approved HPV tests were made for cervical cancer screening in women. So if you're asking "is there an HPV test for men?" — the honest answer is no.
So can men be tested for HPV? Not directly — but they can be checked. A doctor can look for what HPV causes, mainly genital warts. And some men should get an anal Pap smear, which looks for early cell changes (precancer) — changes that could turn into cancer over time.
How to Test for HPV in Men
Doctors check men for signs of HPV by looking. During an exam, the doctor checks the skin of the genital and anal areas for warts or unusual spots. The CDC says genital warts are usually diagnosed just by looking at them. If a spot looks unusual, a small tissue sample (a biopsy) can confirm what it is.
What the exam can and can't see
- It can see: the genital skin, the skin around the anus, the mouth, and the throat as far as a doctor can see from the outside.
- It can't see: deep into the throat, or inside the rectum.
An exam finds only HPV that shows on the skin. Most people with HPV never get symptoms, so a normal exam does not prove you don't have HPV.
When a spot needs a biopsy
The CDC advises a biopsy when a spot looks unusual — dark, hard, attached to the tissue underneath, bleeding, or open. We don't take biopsies in the office. Depending on where the spot is, we refer you to a dermatologist, a rectal surgeon, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor, or an oral pathologist (a specialist in diseases of the mouth). Warts can also look like other harmless bumps — see genital warts vs. skin tags.
If you have warts around the anus, there may be warts inside it too. The CDC says a colorectal specialist (a doctor for the colon, rectum and anus) should manage warts inside the anus, so we refer you to a rectal surgeon.
You don't need an HPV test to diagnose a wart. The CDC does not recommend one for that.
Wondering how to test for HPV in men, and what kind of doctor to see? You need one who will examine the skin. At STD Center NY, Dr. Fuzayloff does the exam himself.
Why Is There No HPV Test for Men?
Why is there no HPV test for men? Because none has been approved. HPV tests were built for cells from the cervix (the opening of the womb), which men don't have. There is no standard way to sample the penis, and most infections go away on their own (see "How long does HPV last in men?" in the FAQ).
A 2025 review in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology lists the main reasons:
- No test is approved for HPV in men.
- The cervical test can't be used on men because of anatomy.
- Different spots on the penis give different results, and there's no standard way to collect a sample.
Researchers are studying urine and swab samples. Urine can carry less of the virus, which can make HPV harder to find.
Blood, Urine and At-Home HPV Tests for Men
None is approved for men. You may see an HPV test for men sold online or at walk-in labs, but no test can show anyone's HPV status. Urine can also carry less of the virus, so a urine test may miss an infection.
If you want to be checked, two steps are useful: an exam for warts, and — if you're in one of the groups below — an anal Pap smear.
Anal Pap Smear: Who Should Get One
An anal Pap smear checks cells from the anus for early changes that can lead to anal cancer. It isn't for every man. Expert guidelines from 2024 recommend it mainly for men who have sex with men, people living with HIV, and organ transplant recipients, starting at set ages.
| Group | When to start |
|---|---|
| Men who have sex with men, and transgender women, living with HIV | Age 35 |
| Other people living with HIV | Age 45 |
| Men who have sex with men, and transgender women, without HIV | Age 45 |
| Women with precancer or cancer of the vulva (outer genitals) | Within 1 year of diagnosis |
| Organ transplant recipients | 10 years after the transplant |
| Age 45+ with past warts around the anus, past cervical or vaginal precancer or cancer, or a weakened immune system | Decide with your doctor |
Source: International Anal Neoplasia Society guidelines, 2024. The U.S. HIV guideline panel uses the same starting ages for people living with HIV.
Why it matters: in the ANCHOR trial (2022), treating these early changes lowered anal cancer by 57% in people with HIV aged 35 and older.
Not every guideline agrees yet. The CDC's 2021 STI (sexually transmitted infection) guidelines said there was not enough data to recommend routine anal Pap screening. Those guidelines came out before the 2022 trial and the 2024 recommendations.
How we do it: you lie on your left side. The doctor gently places a moistened swab about 2 inches into the anus, turns it, and slowly draws it out. It takes about a minute and may be a little uncomfortable; a little blood afterward can happen. For 24 hours before the test, don't douche, use an enema, or put anything into the anus, and don't use lubricant. The sample goes to Northwell, and results take about a week. It can be done alone or together with an anal HPV test. If the result is abnormal, we refer you to a rectal surgeon for a closer look and a biopsy.
Not sure of your HIV status? Get a rapid HIV test.
My Partner Has HPV. Should I Get Tested?
Not for HPV itself. The CDC says HPV tests should not be used on male partners of women with HPV. Partners tend to share HPV, so your partner's result likely means you've been exposed too. What can help is a doctor's exam for warts and tests for other STDs.
- No one can tell who gave it to whom. The CDC says it's not possible to tell which partner had HPV first.
- If your partner has genital warts, the CDC says you may benefit from an exam for warts and tests for other STDs, such as rapid STD testing.
- If your partner has high-risk HPV, there is no treatment for the virus itself, and most infections clear on their own (see "How long does HPV last in men?" in the FAQ).
HPV Test for Women: How It's Different
Women have an approved HPV test. It's part of cervical cancer screening: a doctor, usually a gynecologist, takes cells from the cervix for the lab to test. Guidelines add HPV testing from age 30. STD Center NY does not offer Pap smears or HPV tests for women.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends:
- Ages 21–29: a Pap test every 3 years.
- Ages 30–65: a Pap test every 3 years, an HPV test every 5 years, or both together every 5 years.
The Task Force says this guidance is being updated.
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved HPV test? | Yes, for cervical screening | No |
| How HPV problems are found | Pap test and HPV test of cervical cells | Doctor's exam for warts; anal Pap smear for some groups |
| Who does it | Usually a gynecologist | A doctor who examines the skin |
| At STD Center NY | Not offered | Exam, anal Pap smear, wart treatment |
What HPV Can Cause in Men
Some types of HPV cause genital warts. Other types, called "high-risk," can cause cancer of the throat, anus or penis — often years after the infection. Each year in the U.S., about 22,800 men are diagnosed with a cancer linked to HPV (CDC, 2018–2022 data).
About 16,800 of these cancers are caused by HPV. Throat cancer is by far the most common, at about 18,800 cases a year in men; penile cancer accounts for about 1,400. To see what warts look like, see our genital wart pictures.
If a Wart Is Found: Treatment Options
A doctor can remove warts, but there is no cure for the virus itself. Treatment includes office procedures and prescription creams you apply at home. Warts often come back, especially in the first 3 months, and left alone they may go away, stay the same, or grow.
We treat warts in the office with:
- Freezing (cryotherapy)
- Acid (trichloroacetic acid, or TCA)
- Burning (electrocautery)
We also prescribe imiquimod cream and podofilox to use at home. For more detail, see our page on genital warts treatment.
Can the HPV Vaccine Help?
The HPV vaccine can prevent many of the health problems HPV causes. CDC guidance recommends it for everyone through age 26. Adults aged 27 to 45 decide with their doctor. STD Center NY does not give the HPV vaccine — ask your primary care doctor.
In January 2026, the CDC changed how many doses it recommends for children. Ask your doctor which schedule applies to you.
