HPV often causes no symptoms. However, HPV symptoms in females may include warts on the cervix, vulvar, and vagina, as well as the anus. It can also increase the risk of throat cancer in males and females.
There are many types of HPV. This is a very common infection that usually presents with no symptoms. However, without treatment, some types of HPV could cause cancer. Prevention is, therefore, very important.
HPV infections usually clear from the body within
This article will outline the different symptoms of HPV, some treatment options, and some prevention methods.
HPV spreads through sexual and intimate skin-to-skin contact.
There are over 200 different types of HPV. Different types of HPV carry different risks.
Low risk HPV rarely develops into cancer but can cause symptoms, such as genital warts, around the genitals and anus. These symptoms are not always visible, however. For example, they may occur inside the anus, vagina, or cervix.
High risk HPV may not present with any symptoms. Without treatment, however, it can cause several cancers,
- cervical
- vaginal
- vulvar
- oropharyngeal
- anal
Whether or not HPV causes symptoms is not related to whether it is high or low risk. Microscopic examination and laboratory testing are the only ways to determine the risk or presence of cancer.
Depending on the type of HPV a female has, they will present with different symptoms.
If they have low risk HPV, warts may develop on the cervix, causing irritation and pain. In some people, these warts could cause bleeding.
High risk HPV
The presence of early cervical cancer or precancerous cells may not cause any symptoms. This is why it is important for females to undergo a Pap test every
Some symptoms of advanced cervical cancer
- pain during sex
- pain in the pelvic region
- unusual discharge from the vagina
- unusual bleeding, such as after sex
Some symptoms of more advanced cervical cancer include:
- weight loss
- difficult urination and bowel movements
- blood in the urine
HPV can infect cells in the vagina and around the vulva. If a female has low risk HPV, they may see warts on the vulva.
These warts may present as:
- a cluster that looks like a cauliflower
- a scatter of bumps that are darker than unaffected skin
- growths that may be raised, flat, smooth, or rough
Warts are usually indicative of low risk HPV. A specific type of vulvar cancer
Without treatment, high risk HVP may cause vaginal or vulvar cancer. Females may not experience any symptoms when they have precancerous cells or during the early stages of vaginal or vulvar cancer.
A Pap test can determine if cells are precancerous, so it is important that females have regular Pap tests, roughly every
How often someone needs a Pap test depends on their age and other risk factors.
Some symptoms of vaginal cancer
- bleeding after sex
- unusual discharge
- a lump in the vagina
- pain while having sex
Learn more about vaginal cancer here.
Some symptoms of vulvar cancer
- a patch of lighter or darker skin
- a discolored lump or bump
- thickening of the skin
- itching
- pain
- bleeding
- an open sore that does not heal within a month
Someone with low risk HPV may notice warts on the back of the throat and the base of the tongue, near the tonsils. HPV can spread to these areas via oral sex. Anyone can contract HPV this way.
Learn more about HPV in males here.
However, if a person has high risk HPV, they may develop oropharyngeal cancer.
Some symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer
- a persistent sore throat
- earaches
- hoarseness
- swollen lymph nodes
- pain when swallowing
- unexplained weight loss
HPV is
Usually, a person’s immune system keeps the HPV infection under control or eliminates it entirely. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
Sometimes, however, a high risk type of HPV may persist for years, and this can lead to cancer.
High risk HPV causes
Routine cervical screening tests for females aged
The
- HPV test: A healthcare professional will test cervical cells for DNA or RNA from high risk HPV types that can cause cervical and other cancers.
- Pap test: A healthcare professional will examine cervical cells to check for cancer or precancerous changes.
- HPV/Pap co-test: This is a combination of the HPV and Pap tests.
There is no cure for HPV. Doctors can only treat the conditions that HPV causes and remove the cells that appear cancerous or precancerous.
A doctor may treat genital warts with:
- prescription medications
- cryosurgery
- lasers or electric currents
- surgery
Doctors
They may treat precancerous changes in other tissues with:
- medications applied to the affected area
- LEEP
- surgery
- cryosurgery
If a person develops cancers as a result of HPV, they will receive treatment for that cancer. This may include chemotherapy.
Globally, the prevention of HPV is very important. According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the
The WHO strongly recommend vaccination against the HPV strains that cause cervical cancer. They also recommend vaccination for female children aged 9–14 years and cervical screening for females aged 30 years and over. Some countries are also now vaccinating male children.
In the United States, the
- vaccination of children at ages 11 or 12 years, though it can be as young as 9 years
- vaccination of older teenagers and young adults aged up to 26 years who did not receive the vaccination when they were younger
- after consultation with their doctor, vaccination of people older than 26 years and up to 45 years
Because a lot of HPV infections do not present with any symptoms, females should ensure that they are up to date with their Pap tests.
If anyone notices any warts or unusual lumps around their genitals or at the back of their throat, they should get in touch with their doctor. The earlier a person talks to their doctor, the sooner treatment can begin.
Most HPV infections clear within
Therefore, people should make sure that they stay on top of their cervical screenings and dental exams (dentists can check for any signs or symptoms of oral cancer).