Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted virus. Many people men and women alike will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. In many cases, the body clears the virus, and no health problems occur. But some high-risk strains of HPV are known to cause cancers (for example, cervical cancer in women, anal cancer, penile cancer, and cancers in the oropharynx).
When it comes to men, however, the story is different and ambiguous. There is currently no FDA-approved, routine clinical test for HPV in men. That fact alone introduces layers of disparity, anxiety, and unknowns, especially for Black men, who already face disproportionate burdens in certain cancers, access to health care, and loss of trust in medical systems.
The tests developed and authorized for HPV detection are largely tailored for women specifically, for sampling the cervix (via Pap smears, HPV DNA tests) where HPV-related changes are well understood and validated.
In men, there is no single, validated anatomical site or method for reliably collecting cells that can detect HPV consistently. Sampling penile skin, urethra, scrotum, anal or perianal tissue, or even urine or semen has been explored in research settings, but none of these are approved for standard screening.
For example, one study looked at combining penile brush (PB) and urethral brush (UB) sampling in HPV-positive men and found a high detection rate when combined, but that sort of approach is not practical, standardized, or approved for clinical screening.
Also, the variability in viral load, the patchy nature of HPV infection in male genital skin, and transient infections (they often clear) make it harder to validate a “positive/negative” test that reliably predicts future risk according to the CDC.
Because of those sampling and reliability challenges, tests for men have not passed through the rigorous validation steps required for FDA (or equivalent) approval. In short: there is insufficient evidence that any particular male HPV test would change health outcomes, prevent disease, or be cost-effective at scale.
The CDC does not recommend routine HPV testing (screening) for men, adolescents, or women under 30.
Many men never know they are infected. Some discover they had HPV only when visible symptoms appear (such as genital warts or lesions) or later, when a cancer is detected.
From the perspective of a Black man thinking: If there’s no test, am I just invisible to the medical system when it comes to HPV? The answer often feels like: yes, in many respects. There’s a silence, a gap. This lack of a standard test means:
You can’t simply “get checked” to know your HPV status. Doctors can’t monitor HPV persistence or progression in men in the same way they can in women. It reinforces inequities: diseases may go undetected until late. It contributes to a kind of medical uncertainty and distrust.
Black men already face higher rates of certain cancers (including prostate cancer) and often poorer access to care and later-stage diagnosis. When you pair that with a virus that can operate stealthily, the sense of “what if I have it and don’t know” can weigh heavily.
There has been a powerful link between HPV strains found in prostate tissue however there has been no official alarm sound regarding such.
Some studies have found HPV DNA (especially high-risk types like HPV-16 or HPV-18) in prostate cancer tissues, and at higher frequencies than in benign prostate tissues or in normal controls. A recent systematic review found HPV in 25.8% of prostate cancer cases, vs. 9.2% in normal tissues and 17.4% in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues.
Researchers propose that HPV oncoproteins (especially E6 & E7) might interfere with tumor suppressors and cell-cycle regulation, promoting carcinogenesis in infected cells. Chronic inflammation is a well-known contributor to cancer risk in many tissues. If HPV infection causes low-level prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), that could help initiate changes over time that increase cancer risk. Some longitudinal observations report that HPV was present in benign prostate tissue years before it developed into cancer of the same HPV type.
Some observational and epidemiologic studies have suggested that men who had documented HPV infections may have higher odds of later prostate cancer (e.g. an odds ratio ≈ 2.3 in one logistic regression analysis) However, these are associations not proof of cause. Many confounders exist (age, genetics, environmental exposures, race, sexual behavior, etc.).
Black men already face higher prostate cancer rates, more aggressive disease, and later diagnoses often compounded by barriers to care and medical mistrust. Add in a virus like HPV, which can’t be routinely tested for in men, and the uncertainty grows.
Staying on top of your prostate health is essential. Regular screenings—like PSA tests and digital rectal exams—can catch problems early, when they’re most treatable. Never ignore warning signs such as pain, changes in urination, or blood in your urine. If something feels off, speak up. Ask questions, get second opinions, and insist on clear answers from your healthcare provider.
Beyond personal health, it’s equally important to push for broader change. Black men deserve to be included in research that examines HPV’s potential role in prostate cancer and to have equal access to screening, education, and treatment for disease that nearly 80-90% of all sexually active adult women contract in their lifetime which can quickly turn deadly for them via ovarian cancer or medically suggestively by way of prostate cancer for their male counterparts.
Prostate cancer disproportionately affects Black men, who are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with more aggressive disease. Early detection is crucial, and regular health assessments can save lives.
Key tests include the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, you can request at your doctor or self pay for at a testing laboratory for with no prescription needed which measures protein levels linked to prostate activity, and the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), where a doctor checks the prostate for abnormalities. Black men are encouraged to begin screening discussions at age 40, especially with a family history. Risk assessment tools can help track symptoms and guide decisions, empowering men to take proactive control of their prostate health.
BY: BEWITTY Staff
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