Is HPV Test Kit Applies to Males Too?
You must be wondering this: how could males fall victim to HPV when males do not even have a uterus, let alone a cervix!
Unfortunately, HPV is not the virus that can only cause cancer in the cervix. HPV, or human papillomavirus, refers to a virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. Contrary to the traditional idea about women being the exclusive victim of HPV, both men, and women can be infected with HPV. While most commonly associated with women’s health, the virus can also have serious implications for men’s health. In fact, HPV is responsible for the majority of cases of penile cancer in men! The good news is that HPV test kits can be used to detect HPV, and the spread can be prevented.
What is HPV?
Did you know that over 200 different types (strains) of HPV exist? While some strains may cause no symptoms, others, however, can lead to the development of warts, or even cancer! Spread through sexual contact, high-risk HPV is the term used for a group of HPV types that are more likely to cause cancer. In most cases, HPV does not cause any symptoms, but high-risk HPV can cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, or throat.
Why and How Do Males Catch it?
It is estimated that nearly 80% of men contract HPV at some point during their lives. HPV gets transmitted in many different ways. For example, men can get HPV through sexual contact with an infected partner, of both the same and a different gender. That is to say, men who have sex with men, or men with multiple partners, are at equal risk for HPV infection.
Also, the virus can be transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. HPV can also be transmitted by sharing objects in direct contact with focal areas (i.e., douches, medical devices, sex toys, etc.) of an infected partner.
Symptoms of HPV Infect in Males
Some males with HPV infection may not exhibit any symptoms at all, though some may experience a variety of symptoms. Common symptoms include genital warts, which can appear as small bumps or clusters of thickened skin. These warts may be flesh-colored or darker, and they can grow on the penis, scrotum, thighs, or groin. Other symptoms contain itching, burning, and pain in the genital area. In some cases, HPV leads to penile cancer that may present with a foul discharge or blood from the penis. Therefore, HPV tests for both females and males are available.
How to Prevent HPV?
Better prevent than cure a disease. In order to prevent HPV, there are 2 important and helpful ways other than practicing safe sex (this means using condoms during sex and avoiding contact with any open sores or warts). The first is to get vaccinated against HPV. Males are also welcome to take HPV vaccination too.
Secondly, getting tested for HPV with an HPV test kit can be very valuable and prevent complications. High-risk HPV test is especially important given the severity of the disease these genotypes cause.
Speaking of HPV test kits, Sansure’s HPV test kit distinguishes itself from all its competitors in the market. Sansure’s HPV test kit identifies the presence of 15 high-risk HPV genotypes (type 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, and 66, 68) linked to cancer. An in vitro nucleic acid amplification test for the detection of high-risk HPV present in exfoliated cells for females and reproductive tract secretions for males (PCR-Fluorescence Probing) is a straightforward yet accurate method to screen for the virus. With a unique, patent-pending PCR-based method, this test kit specifically targets and amplifies the E6/E7 region of the HPV genome. Sansure’s high-risk HPV test kit is over 99% accurate and can be used to guide treatment decisions. In addition, with advanced magnetic beads technology, the test kit can be used to monitor the response to treatment and to assess the risk of recurrence rapidly.
In conclusion, Sansure’s HPV diagnostic kit is an important tool for clinical research and diagnostics, and it has the potential to improve the management of HPV infections worldwide.
Conclusion
More than 14 million new cases of HPV, the most prevalent STD in the US, are reported there each year. Genital warts and cancer are just two of the health issues the virus can bring on. While there is no cure for HPV, early diagnosis is essential for preventing serious health complications. Therefore, even though males may fall victim to HPV, with proper prevention and early diagnosis, males can also be safe against HPV as well.
