Let’s beat human papilloma virus (HPV)
HPV is a common virus infection resulting in genital warts, which is spread through sex or close skin-to-skin contact. You can help stop its spread throughout Boston’s gay and bisexual community by learning more about the disease and getting tested. This site provides the information you need.

Make getting checked for HPV part of your routine.
If you are sexually active, make (sexually transmitted disease) STD testing part of your routine, including getting checked for HPV infection. There’s no standard tests for HPV for men but you have a few options:
  • Visit a testing site to get checked (via a visual exam) for HPV
  • Get checked at your own health care provider's office or health center
  • Some testing sites and/or health care provider/health center’s may offer an anal cytology for HPV

HPV is treatable, not curable.
Genital and/or anal warts may only be removed by a trained health care provider. Even after the warts have been removed, HPV may remain present after treatment.

Additional Information
Learn more about HPV by reading the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's HPV Fact Sheet. You can also read about Gay and Bisexual Men and STDs, another resource provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Please note, all fact sheet files are in Adobe PDF format. If the link appears to be broken, or you know you need a PDF reader, please visit the Adobe download page.

If you would like to see a picture of what signs or symptoms of this might looks like, please click here.