HPV Symptoms and Tests

Genital HPV infection is very common. At least half of people who have had sex will contract the HPV virus (human papillomovirus) at some point in their lives. Yet many will not know it because they will not have any HPVsymptoms.

Whether HPV symptoms occur or not can depend on the HPV type involved in the infection. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some HPV types are associated with genital warts, although the warts are not always visible.

Some types of HPV are associated with cervical and other cancers, and no warts occur, and no other symptoms may be noticed. Some HPV types also cause common warts that you can find on other areas of the body such as your hands or feet.

Many people who get genital HPV will clear it without treatment and without symptoms, and no health problems will occur. The longer the virus is in the body, however, the higher your risk of developing health problems such as cervical cancer or anal cancer.

Here's what you need to know about genital HPV infection, HPV symptoms, and the HPV test:

HPV Symptoms

The HPV virus lives in mucous membranes, such as those in the genital area, or on the skin. If genital warts show up, it's an indication of HPV infection. Genital warts take on many different appearances. They can be raised, flat, pink, or flesh-colored. They can even be shaped like cauliflower. Sometimes there is a single wart; other times multiple warts appear. They can be small or large. They can be on the anus, cervix, scrotum, groin, thigh, anus, or the penis.

Genital warts can show up weeks or even months after sexual contact with a person infected with HPV virus. That person may not know he or she is infected and is responsible for HPV transmission.

Some types of genital HPV infection are associated with cancer, including cervical cancer and cancer of the vulva, anus, or penis. If infection occurs with one of these virus types, precancerous changes can occur in cells in the tissue without causing any symptoms.

How Is HPV Infection Diagnosed?

The appearance of genital warts is one way HPV infection is diagnosed. A doctor simply does a visual inspection. The HPV types associated with warts, however, are not generally the types associated with cancer.

Women infected with the type of HPV that can cause cancer may first be told their Pap test results are abnormal.  Pap tests are the main way doctors find cervical cancer or precancerous changes in the cervix. 

To find out for sure if the changes are related to HPV, a doctor may decide to perform a DNA test on the virus in women who have an abnormal Pap smear. This tells you and your doctor whether the HPV virus you have can cause cancer. Only certain strains of HPV cause cancer. Indeed, HPV 16 and 18 account for 70% of all cervical cancers. This DNA test is often given to women who have mild Pap test abnormalities. It may also be given as part of a routine Pap test to women over age 30.