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What Is HPV in Men?
HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. It is the most common skin-to-skin virus passed between partners during intimate contact. It is so incredibly common that almost every sexually active person will catch it at some point in their life if they haven't been vaccinated.
Here is exactly how the virus behaves in a man's body:
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It Is Mostly a Silent Virus. The vast majority of men who contract the virus have absolutely no idea they have it. It lives quietly on the skin, causes zero pain or daily symptoms, and is usually cleared away naturally by your body's immune system over time.
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The Difference Between Low-Risk and High-Risk. The virus comes in different types. Low-risk types can cause visible physical changes like genital warts. High-risk types stay completely hidden and do not cause warts, but if they stay active in your body for years, they can cause changes to your cells.
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Why a Urine DNA Test Is Necessary. While women get regular medical Pap smears to screen for this virus, there is no routine physical swab test available for men. Because you cannot see the high-risk strains with the naked eye, a specialized DNA urine test is the easiest way to know if the virus is active in your system.
Symptoms to Watch For in Men
Most men who contract HPV never develop any symptoms at all because their immune system naturally fights it off. When symptoms do appear, they typically fall into two categories:
Genital Warts (Low-Risk HPV Strains): Small bumps or clusters of bumps that can appear on the penis, scrotum, groin, inner thighs, or around the anus. They can be flat, raised, or shaped like a small cauliflower. They usually do not hurt, but can occasionally itch or feel tender. Genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV strains — these are not the strains our test detects.
Invisible High-Risk Strains: The 14 high-risk HPV strains screened by our PCR-based urine test — including types 16 and 18 — do not cause genital warts. These strains can live silently in your body for years without a single symptom, which is why a lab test is the only way to know if they are present.
How HPV in Men is Treated
There is a common misconception about HPV treatment. It is important to know that there is no medical cure or antiviral medication that eliminates the HPV virus itself.
Instead, medical treatments focus entirely on managing the physical symptoms or health changes that the virus can cause. In the vast majority of cases, your body's natural immune system will fight off and completely clear the virus on its own over time — usually within 1–2 years.
Here is how different situations are handled depending on your test results and symptoms:
For Invisible High-Risk Strains (Positive Urine Test): If your PCR-based urine test comes back positive for a high-risk strain, there is no pill to take. Instead, the "treatment" is proactive monitoring. You will take your lab results to your regular healthcare provider, who will monitor your health and watch for any hidden cellular changes the virus could cause over time.
For Visible Low-Risk Strains (Genital Warts): If the virus causes visible bumps or genital warts, a healthcare provider can safely remove them using several common clinical methods — freezing them off (cryotherapy), removing them with a medical-grade chemical solution, or prescribing a topical immune-response cream you apply at home.
Supporting Your Immune System: Because your immune system is the only thing that actually clears the virus, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to help your body succeed. Doctors strongly recommend avoiding smoking (which suppresses your immune defenses against HPV), eating a balanced diet, getting consistent sleep, and managing stress to keep your immune system strong.
HPV Testing for Men in Mesa & the East Valley
Walk into our Mesa walk-in lab on East University Drive for a private HPV urine test for men.
Same-day walk-in collection, PCR-based lab analysis, and secure online results in just 2–3 days. Convenient for residents of Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Apache Junction, and Queen Creek.
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Frequently Asked Questions Male HPV Testing
How do men know if they have HPV? Most of the time, men don't know they have it. The virus usually has zero symptoms and hides silently on the skin. Unless a low-risk strain causes visible genital warts, the only way a man can find out if he is carrying an invisible, high-risk strain is by taking a specialized DNA urine test.
Can a man pass HPV to his partner if he has no symptoms? Yes. HPV is highly contagious and spreads through basic, intimate skin-to-skin contact. Because the virus lives silently on the skin, a man can easily pass it to a partner even if his skin looks completely normal and he has never had a single symptom in his life.
How long until I get my results? Most results are delivered through our secure online portal within 2–3 business days after your visit.