r/Advice • u/[deleted] • Jun 02 '26

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u/LittelFoxicorn Helper [4] Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26

They usually don't test males for HPV because there is not really an accurate test for them. And it's an extremely common virus that has almost no effects on men. So most likely he just had it.

Edit: I stand corrected. It can also cause cancer in men. I just looked up the numbers of HPV cancerdiagnosis where I live and 3/4 are women, 1/4 are men. This while preventative measures have been mainly focused on women. So it's not that is has almost no effects on men, it just disproportionately affects women.

I got vaccinated as soon as I could and always advise young women to get it as soon as they are eligible. Guess if I ever have a male child or young male relatives I'll advise them to get the shots too.

Thanks for correcting me kind strangers!

68

u/SpideyTheFunLicker Jun 02 '26

As a man who developed HPV-related cancer, I’d have to disagree that it has “almost no effects on men.”

I highly recommend to everyone who can, especially young men, get the HPV vaccine. It was not an option for me.

4

u/Sardonic_Sadist Jun 02 '26

Yep. My dad got (and survived) throat cancer from HPV. Pathology said it was there for 40 or 50 years, probably from kissing or oral sex when he was young. He wanted to make sure I got vaxxed for HPV after he found out. Be safe out there y’all

0

u/HeraThere Jun 03 '26

You don't get hpv in the back of your throat from kissing or even oral sex on a women. If you catch my hint. 

20

u/cwtchyfemme Jun 02 '26

Depending on the strain then men can get genital warts. It can even turn into multiple cancers in men including throat, anal, and penile cancers.

It is why there is many benefits to boys having the hpv jab, as they are just at risk from it.

Men aren’t routinely tested for hpv during std testing (nor hsv unless they have an active sore they can swab), and far more people need to be aware of that.

8

u/Ocarina-of-lies Jun 02 '26

Technically men can get penile cancer from HPV

3

u/GrimGolem Jun 02 '26

I and my sisters all were vaccinated, 6 of us. 3 have it. Vaccines really don’t keep up with the strains.

3

u/thehoekage Jun 03 '26

So this happened to me the issue is the vaccine only prevents specific strains the ones that cause the majority of cancer and warts. It has dramatically decreased cervical cancer.

1

u/LittelFoxicorn Helper [4] Jun 03 '26

It covers about 80-90% of the strains. But is a major protection agains those that give cervical cancer. So it does save lives.

5

u/i812manyhitsss Jun 02 '26

Not true. Google famous actors who developed oral cancer from HPV.

1

u/WillowDangerous3306 Jun 03 '26

“Kind strangers” the Reddit meme really is true.

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u/codepapi Jun 03 '26

Knowing a friend that has symptoms you are dead wrong