I'm really confused about whether there is an HPV test for men?

John S

I am a women and I recently went for my yearly exam and my pap came back with abnormal cells. My Geno said that I must have been given HOV. She also told me there is no way to test men for HOV and that the only way my boyfriend would have known he had it is if he showed some kind of symptoms. He is in the Navy and when I told him this information, he went to the doctor on base and the doctor said there is a test for men, where they stick a q-tip up the penis? Now I am totally confused because my doctor and many websites I read say there is no test, but his doctor on base says there is. Anyone know what that doctor might be talking about? Thanks!
Thanks everyone! It is just so strange to me because he specifically made the appointment to be tested for HOV. He is routinely tested for all studs, but once he found out about my pap results he went to the doctor on base and asked specifically about HOV. The doctor told him that they can test him for it, and made him an appointment. He is stationed in Japan, but I'm not sure if they are using any foreign tests on a military base. I just don't get why the two doctors on his base told him they can test for HOV, when my Geno specifically told me there is no test for men and all of the websites I looked at said the same, including the National Cancer Institute's website.

wow · 12-12-2008, 08:07 PM

there is

Alyson · 12-16-2008, 08:07 PM

Everything I have ever read says that there is NOT a test for men. I believe the Q-tip test is what is used for general STD testing on men. Now I just did a search and this site (http://www.thehpvtest.com/about-hpv/faqs-for-men/) says that "there is no FDA approved HPV test for men". Now I can't help but speculate if perhaps there are tests available perhaps in foreign countries and just not one in United States that the FDA has allowed.

Men tend to be the carriers (meaning they usually do not show any symptoms or signs of STDs) and women are the receivers. If the two of you have had unprotected sex especially more than once it is almost conclusive that you both have HPV. Even sexual activity with the use of protection can leave either partner vulnerable to contracting HPV. HPV is known to lay dormant in the body and some may never show any symptoms (i.e. warts).

About 12 years ago I too had a pap come back stating I had dyspepsia (abnormal cells). I absolutely freaked out. I had to have the abnormal cells burned off my cervix. Some women HPV it rather painful, I think it was just a bit uncomfortable. Sorry I cannot even think of the name of the procedure. All of my paps since this procedure have come back normal. While in some cases dyspepsia can be an indicator for cancer, as HPV can lead to cancer if not monitored at least yearly. This is why drug companies started making Gardasil to protect women from some of the harmful strains of HPV. There is a plethora of information regarding HPV on the Internet I encourage you to research and educate yourself regarding this virus.

mommykgz · 12-18-2008, 08:07 PM

It's a blood test.

run2dem · 12-22-2008, 08:07 PM

I asked my Geno about that too. He said the only way to know a woman has high-risk HPV is to see abnormal cells on the cervix. It is impossible for men to show symptoms of high-risk HPV, therefore there is no way to test for it.

I know the q-tip test tests for many other STDs for men, so maybe he thought he was getting tested for HPV in addition to the others?