One thing no man wants to wake up to in the morning is a suspicious bump on his junk. Just imagine the alarm that one experience upon discovering such a thing; one minute a man is sleepily going through his morning shower routine and the next – BAM – he is wide awake as he discovers an unfamiliar protrusion down below.  Finding male organ warts is one such occasion that is sure to jolt a man wide-awake. Learn more about pelvic warts and tips for maintaining a healthy male organ.

What are male organ warts?

Male organ warts, or pelvic warts, are pink or flesh-colored bumps that appear on the male organ shaft, as well as elsewhere in the private area. Pelvic warts may be raised or flat, they can be small or large, appear as a single wart or in a patch of several warts, they can even have a center that resembles a piece of cauliflower.

Pelvic warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a very common virus that is spread from partner to partner during intimate acts; it is estimated that about 50% of active individuals have or will become infected with HPV in their lifetime – if that doesn’t motivate a man to use protection, nothing will!

How are they diagnosed?

For most individuals, a doctor needs to do nothing more than see the bump to determine if it is a pelvic wart – it is possible it could be something else as there are plenty of male organ bumps to be had.  The tricky thing about pelvic warts is that they may show up shortly after having relations with an infected partner, or they can take weeks or months to rear their ugly little heads.  That is part of the reason they are so easily spread, as it is possible for a man or woman to unknowingly infect their partner without even knowing they are carrying the virus at the time of contact.  What’s more?  Some men can be carrying the HPV virus yet remain asymptomatic indefinitely – meaning they never have symptoms of HPV including warts – these individuals are at especially high risk of transmitting the infection to others.

Are pelvic warts cancerous?

While it is true that certain strains of the virus HPV are associated with cervical cancer in women and male organ cancer in men, pelvic warts do not necessarily lead to male organ cancer. Typically, the strain of HPV that causes warts does not cause cancer.  A doctor can perform a Pap test to diagnose HPV in women, but currently there is not a male equivalent available.

Keeping the male organ healthy

There are certain risk factors that increase one’s chance of becoming infected with HPV.  Engaging in unprotected relations, having multiple partners, being with a partner who has had many partners, and not always using protection can all increase one’s risk of acquiring HPV.  Luckily, pelvic wart outbreaks tend to go away on their own, though stubborn ones may need medical treatment.  The virus itself, however, does stay in the body, meaning one is always at risk for another outbreak and is able to spread the infection to others.

Preventative care is an important part of keeping the male organ healthy; using protection is a key way to reduce the risk of contracting HPV and pelvic warts.  Latex barriers do offer protection against HPV, but the only certain way to prevent it -- and other partner-transmitted infections – is to abstain entirely from intimate relations.  While engaging in safe contact is important to a man’s overall reproductive health, there are other steps a man can take to keep the male organ healthy.  Daily use of a male organ health formula (most professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can help improve the appearance and health of a man’s male organ.  Selecting a male organ health formula that contains vitamins and minerals can help moisturize the skin of the male organ, fight odors, prevent disease, and eliminate harmful bacteria in the area.

For men who are concerned about improving their male organ health: Find more advice about treating common problems such as a sore male organ, dry skin, redness and loss of male organ sensation. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous online web sites.