The use of deoxyribonucleic acid probes to examine the type of the human papillomavirus genome found in penile lesions is described at a technical level and in a clinical application. At least 40 different types of human papillomavirus have been identified and these types vary not only in their deoxyribonucleic acid base sequences but also in their clinical manifestations. Although deoxyribonucleic acid probes currently have a role only in a research setting, this study delineates the possible role of this technology in a clinical setting to detect subclinical intraurethral human papillomavirus. The results have widespread implications regarding the treatment of condyloma and the associated cervical dysplasia. In this series 25 grossly visible lesions were typed and 85 per cent contained human papillomavirus types 6 and 11. In contrast, microscopic lesions identified in the male partners of women with cervical dysplasia were shown to contain human papillomavirus types 16, 18 or 31 in 60 per cent of the cases. In addition, urethral brushings were obtained and were positive for human papillomavirus in 50 per cent of the cases despite normal urethroscopy. Human papillomavirus types 16, 18 or 31 accounted for 70 per cent of the positive urethral brushings.