· The HPV infection and early cervical cancer typically don't cause symptoms. Getting vaccinated against HPV infection is the best way to protect against cervical cancer. HPV (human papillomavirus) may not cause any symptoms.
Understanding the Context
Since this virus is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, someone who has HPV might not know it unless they are getting routine testing or if they develop signs and symptoms. · A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection doesn't always show noticeable symptoms, but if the virus doesn’t go away on its own, it can cause health serious health problems. When symptoms do occur, the most common sign of the virus is warts in your genital area. Genital warts are rough, cauliflower-like lumps that grow on your skin.
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Key Insights
They may also appear like skin tags. They may appear weeks, months or even years after you’ve been infected with low-risk HPV. · Some people get warts from certain low-risk HPV infections, but the other types (including the high-risk types) have no symptoms. If a high-risk HPV infection lasts for many years and causes cell changes, you may have symptoms. You may also have symptoms if those cell changes develop into cancer.
Important Details
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is most commonly spread through vaginal or anal sex but also may be spread through other types of sexual and skin-to-skin contact. Genital warts are visible skin growths that sometimes cause burning pain, and genital or anal precancer or cancer may cause bleeding or a mass or have no symptoms. Most of the time, HPV causes no symptoms. People often don’t know they have an infection.
Final Thoughts
Some strains of HPV cause genital warts. Warts appear only during active HPV infection. Genital warts may appear on and around the genitals or in the groin area, cervix, rectum, or anus. When symptoms do occur, the most common sign of the virus is warts in your genital area. Genital warts are rough, cauliflower-like lumps that grow on your skin. They may also appear like skin tags.
They may appear weeks, months or even years after you’ve been infected with low-risk HPV. · Some people get warts from certain low-risk HPV infections, but the other types (including the high-risk types) have no symptoms. If a high-risk HPV infection lasts for many years and causes cell changes, you may have symptoms. You may also have symptoms if those cell changes develop into cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is most commonly spread through vaginal or anal sex but also may be spread through other types of sexual and skin-to-skin contact. Genital warts are visible skin growths that sometimes cause burning pain, and genital or anal precancer or cancer may cause bleeding or a mass or have no symptoms. Most of the time, HPV causes no symptoms. People often don’t know they have an infection. Some strains of HPV cause genital warts. Warts appear only during active HPV infection. Genital warts may appear on and around the genitals or in the groin area, cervix, rectum, or anus.
