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HPV in Men and Women: Testing, Vaccines and Cervical Screening in San Antonio

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

HPV in Men and Women: Testing, Vaccines and Cervical Screening in San Antonio

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to the CDC. Most people who are sexually active will come into contact with it at some point. Most never notice anything, and most never have a health problem from it.

That is also why HPV feels confusing. There is no single test that answers every question, the tests that exist work differently for different bodies, and a vaccine can prevent much of the harm. This guide explains what research suggests about HPV in men and HPV in women, what screening looks like, and where San Antonio residents can start.

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What HPV is, in plain terms

HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses, according to the CDC. About 40 of them can affect the genital area, the mouth and the throat. They spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal or oral sex. The CDC notes that a person can pass HPV on even when they have no signs of it.

The CDC estimates that about 13 million people in the United States are newly infected with HPV each year. It also reports that most infections clear on their own within about two years, because the immune system handles them. That is the usual course, not a rare one.

HPV is a small virus built around a shell of protein. The CDC explains that this outer shell matters for the vaccine, which we cover below. The virus has no cure. The health problems it can cause, such as warts and precancerous changes, can be treated by a clinician, and HPV is considered manageable.

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HPV symptoms: why many people notice none

The CDC says most people with HPV have no symptoms and feel completely well. That is true for HPV in women and for HPV in men. A person can carry the virus, and pass it on, without any sign.

When HPV symptoms do appear, they usually take one of these forms:

  • Genital warts. These are small bumps or clusters of bumps in the genital or anal area. The CDC says they can appear weeks, months or even years after contact.
  • Warts in other places. HPV types can also cause common warts on the hands or feet, which are different types from the ones that cause genital warts.
  • Changes found at screening. Cell changes on the cervix usually cause no feeling at all. They are found through screening, not through symptoms.
  • Signs of cancer. The CDC says cancers linked to HPV can take years, even decades, to develop. By the time they cause symptoms, they may be advanced, which is why screening and vaccination matter.

A bump, sore or change in the genital area has many possible causes. Only a clinician can look at it and tell you what it is. If something is new or worrying, a visit to a clinic is a reasonable next step.

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Warts versus high-risk types

Different HPV types behave differently. The CDC groups the ones that affect the genital area into two broad categories.

Low-risk types that cause warts

According to the CDC, HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90 percent of genital warts. These types are not linked to cancer. Warts can be uncomfortable or distressing, but they are not dangerous in the way high-risk types can be. A clinician can treat them, though the virus itself may stay in the body and warts can return.

High-risk types linked to cancer

Other types can cause cell changes that, over many years, may lead to cancer if they are not found and treated. The CDC says HPV types 16 and 18 cause most cervical cancers. The CDC also reports that HPV causes about 37,000 cancers each year in the United States. These include cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus and the back of the throat.

Having a high-risk type does not mean cancer will develop. Research suggests most high-risk infections clear without causing harm. Screening exists to catch the small number that do not.

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HPV in men: why there is no routine test

The CDC states that there is currently no approved HPV test to find out a man's overall HPV status. There is also no approved test for HPV in the mouth or throat. For this reason, men and other people without a cervix are not offered a routine HPV screening test.

The CDC explains the reasoning. Most HPV infections in men clear on their own and cause no problems. A test for a passing infection would not show whether it will ever matter. For many HPV-related cancers in men, there is not yet a screening test shown to improve outcomes.

What this means in practice:

  • Men are usually told about HPV when a clinician finds genital warts or another change on examination.
  • HPV-related cancers in men, such as penile, anal and throat cancers, are less common than cervical cancer in women, according to the CDC. They do happen, and the CDC says HPV vaccination can lower the risk of the infections that cause them.
  • Some clinicians offer anal cell screening to people at higher risk, including some people living with HIV. The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) discuss this as something to decide with a clinician, not a routine test for everyone.

This applies to anyone without a cervix, whatever their gender or orientation. If you are wondering whether any screening makes sense for you, a clinician can talk through your situation. Vaccination is the main preventive step available to everyone, and it is covered below.

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HPV in women: cervical screening and the USPSTF

HPV in women is different in one important way: a screening program exists. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends cervical cancer screening for people with a cervix. Its 2018 recommendation sets these intervals:

  • Under age 21: screening is not recommended.
  • Ages 21 to 29: a Pap test (cervical cytology) every 3 years.
  • Ages 30 to 65: a Pap test every 3 years, or an HPV test alone every 5 years, or an HPV test together with a Pap test every 5 years.
  • Over age 65: screening is not recommended for people who have had adequate prior screening and are not otherwise at high risk.
  • After a hysterectomy that removed the cervix: screening is not recommended for people with no history of a serious precancerous lesion or cervical cancer.

Some people need a different plan. A clinician may suggest a different schedule if you have HIV, a weakened immune system, a past abnormal result, or other factors. The USPSTF also updates its recommendations over time, so ask your clinician which version they follow.

The two tests answer different questions. A Pap test looks at cervical cells for changes. An HPV test looks for high-risk HPV types. A result is something a clinician explains in context. An abnormal result is common and is not a cancer diagnosis. It usually leads to a follow-up visit.

HPV screening is separate from the other STI tests. A routine chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis or HIV panel does not check for HPV. If you are weighing those tests, our guide to chlamydia symptoms, testing and treatment in San Antonio explains what that test involves.

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The HPV vaccine: composition, research and safety

What it is made of

The CDC explains that HPV vaccines are made from proteins found on the outer shell of the virus. They contain no viral genetic material, so the vaccine cannot cause an HPV infection. The vaccine used in the United States today protects against nine HPV types, including the wart-causing types 6 and 11 and the high-risk types 16 and 18.

Who the CDC recommends it for

  • Routine vaccination at ages 11 or 12. It can start as early as age 9.
  • Catch-up vaccination for everyone through age 26 who was not vaccinated earlier.
  • Adults ages 27 to 45 who were not vaccinated may talk with a clinician about whether it makes sense. The CDC describes the benefit in this group as smaller, because many people have already met HPV.

The number of shots depends on the age at which vaccination starts and on immune health. A clinician or pharmacist will explain what applies to you.

What research suggests

The CDC reports that since the vaccine was introduced in 2006, infections with the HPV types it targets have dropped by about 88 percent among teen girls and about 81 percent among young adult women. A 2020 study of Swedish women in the New England Journal of Medicine found lower rates of invasive cervical cancer among those who were vaccinated, especially among those vaccinated before age 17. These are observations from large populations. They suggest the vaccine works well, but they do not mean any one person is fully protected.

The CDC also notes that the vaccine does not treat an existing infection and does not cover every HPV type. Cervical screening still matters after vaccination.

Safety profile and contraindications

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration monitor HPV vaccine safety continuously. The CDC states that the vaccine has a strong safety record. Common effects include soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, plus headache, fatigue or nausea. The CDC advises sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes after any vaccination, because some people faint.

The CDC lists these cautions:

  • Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose, or to any component of the vaccine, should not get it. Tell the clinician about any severe allergies.
  • The CDC recommends delaying vaccination until after pregnancy. It also says that having been vaccinated during pregnancy by accident is not a reason for alarm, and that a clinician can advise.
  • People who feel moderately or severely ill on the day usually wait until they recover.
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How to judge the quality of screening and information

Because HPV tests and advice vary, a few questions help you judge what you are being offered.

  • Which test is it? Ask whether it is a Pap test, an HPV test or both. They are not the same.
  • Is the source a public-health agency? The CDC, the Texas Department of State Health Services and Metro Health publish information that follows national guidelines.
  • Is it a clinical service? HPV screening for the cervix is done in a clinic by a clinician, who also explains what comes next. Be cautious about any service that offers a single result with no follow-up.
  • Does the clinic say what it offers? If a clinic does not list a service, call and ask. That is a normal question.
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HPV screening and vaccination in San Antonio

Several San Antonio programs offer STI testing, and some list women's health care. The published pages vary on what they cover, so it is worth calling before you go.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) runs the STI Walk-In Clinic at 512 E. Highland, Suite 150, San Antonio, TX 78210. The phone is 210-207-8830. According to Metro Health, the clinic serves residents of San Antonio and Bexar County, and people with no other means of getting STI services. It requires a photo ID, and it does not offer anonymous testing. Metro Health lists a $15 office visit administrative fee, with other fees varying by service. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the latest check-in at 3 p.m., and Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., with the latest check-in at 10:30 a.m. Check-in can close early when the clinic is at capacity. The clinic's page does not say whether it offers HPV vaccination or cervical screening, so ask when you call.

For women's health care on a sliding fee, CentroMed lists screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases under its women's services. It says its fees are based on income and family size and that no one is denied for inability to pay. The CentroMed page does not list cervical screening or HPV vaccination by name, so call 210-922-7000 to ask. CommuniCare Health Centers also lists a sliding fee for self-pay patients with family income under 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Its Apollo Wellness Clinic is at 6511 W Loop 1604 N, Ste. 105, and the phone is (726) 224-3438.

The San Antonio AIDS Foundation, the Alamo Area Resource Center and Kind Clinic list free HIV and STI testing, and these services do not include HPV testing. Their published pages name tests such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. For a fuller list of places, see our guide to STD testing in San Antonio, or browse the local clinic list.

Texas also offers free at-home kits through Test for Texas, run by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The kits cover HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia for anyone in Texas aged 13 or older. HPV is not one of the listed tests. You can order at testfortexas.org. Another place to find nearby testing sites is the CDC's locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

For the HPV vaccine, call your regular clinic, a Metro Health location or a pharmacy and ask whether they give it, what it costs, and what you need to bring. If you are under 18, ask the clinic how consent works for vaccines. Texas law on minor consent to STI care applies to reportable infections, and HPV is not on the state's 2026 notifiable conditions list.

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Questions to bring to a visit

  • Am I due for cervical screening, and which test do you use?
  • How will I get my results, and what happens if something looks different?
  • Am I eligible for the HPV vaccine, and what will it cost?
  • If I have a bump or sore, can someone look at it today?
  • Do my partners need to know anything, and how can they get care?

Asking is not an admission of anything. Clinicians in public-health settings hear these questions every day, and the questions apply to people of every gender and orientation.

HPV is common, usually harmless, and often preventable. Screening for the cervix and vaccination for everyone are the two tools that make the biggest difference, and both are available in San Antonio with a phone call.

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