| Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - Genital Warts
4. What are the symptoms?
It is possible to be infected with HPV without having any visible symptoms. If warts do appear, they usually form a group of small, soft, moist, pinkish, painless growths vaguely resembling a cauliflower. In females, the warts may appear around the vaginal opening or on the major or minor lips of the vulva. In males, the warts may appear around the opening of the penis or on the scrotum, groin, and even thigh. In both sexes the warts may also appear around the anus as a result of infectious anal intercourse.
5. How is it diagnosed?
A doctor can usually diagnose genital warts by simply taking a good, close look at them. In some cases, a biopsy may be taken to rule out cancer or a precancerous condition. In females, an HPV infection is sometimes detected during a routine examination with an intra-vaginal swab or smear taken from the cervix, the so-called pap smear. The “pap smear” is named after the Greek-American medical researcher George N. Papanicolaou, who developed it in 1943. This method of detecting cervical cancer early is now widely used and has saved many lives.
In recent years, it has been found that HPV infections transmitted through oral intercourse can also lead to oral and throat cancer, and even lung cancer. For this reason, mouth and throat examinations may also be advisable. In addition, there is increasing evidence that HPV can cause anal cancer as a result of anal intercourse. A thorough medical examination will keep all this in mind.
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