We now know that HPV causes cancer in men. It was just a matter of time for this fact to become apparent since it has been widely known for years that HPV caused cervical cancer in women. Sexual transmission of HPV, also called Human Papilloma Virus, genital warts and venereal warts, can lead to cancers of the penis, anus, rectum and throat. Additionally, HPV is believed by experts to be the leading cause of throat cancer in men, surpassing smoking related throat cancers. Thanks to Michael Douglas’ interview in People Magazine, September 2010, where he spoke about his own throat cancer and history of HPV, more and more men are becoming aware of the link between HPV and male throat cancers. I applaud Douglas for publicly talking about his cancer and history of HPV. Douglas’ frankness is helping millions of men to become aware of the link between HPV and male cancers.

Progressive Health Services, longtime leader in providing HPV testing for women, now offers state of the art HPV testing for men in San Diego. HPV, also called Human Papilloma Virus, genital warts and venereal warts, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. today. Extensive research linking HPV to cervical cancer has prompted routine testing for women in Pap smears. However, until recently little attention has been paid to HPV cancer risk or testing in men.