The trouble is, there's no real way to test men for the virus. A simple test in which a vinegar solution is applied to the penis and subsequent white spots indicate the presence of HPV doesn't reveal the presence of the virus unless there are visible genital warts, and even then can often miss them. A new screening procedure being used in the case of some women with borderline Pap tests can detect HPV in women, but the medical community is in the midst of fierce debate about the test's merits. Many believe the screening is not worthwhile or cost effective, since the presence of abnormal cells detected by a colposcopy virtually assures that a patient is infected with the virus. And the test is not yet being used on men.
Ledger believes the medical community has wrongly approached and treated the disease.
In the future, HPV will likely also be treated medically. There are several drugs in development, including one that may eliminate the need for colposcopies and cone biopsies in many women. For me, however, there was only one option. As it turned out, the surgery itself was no big deal. The last thing I remember I was lying on the table in the operating room, with the anesthesiologist holding my left arm.