If you are a woman, it is important that you are aware of the symptoms of HPV so that you can catch them and get treated as soon as possible before the condition worsens. As such, if you are concerned about HPV, here is a guide to some of the most common symptoms.

Do you always get symptoms?

Many people find that they do not get any symptoms at all when they have HPV, though, and that the virus passes within a few years without them noticing that they have it. However, although it may do you no harm if you get HPV, many people will want to know if they have it as this can cause you to be at a higher risk of cancers like cervical cancer, vaginal, vulval and anal cancer, as well as cancers of the head and neck.

What are the symptoms?

If you get the HPV virus, you might find that different types of warts begin to grow on your vagina or anus. These could show up in clusters, raised or flat growths, or bumpy discolored skin. You might also start to develop common warts, flat warts, and planter warts around other areas of your body, such as your legs, hands, and face.

However, if your HPV has led to you developing cancer, such as cervical cancer, you will usually present more symptoms. For instance, if you have cervical cancer, you might experience pain during sex, abnormal discharge, or lumps around your vagina. As such, it is vital that you are aware of these symptoms and the HPV virus.

What should you do if you have symptoms?

If you have symptoms of the HPV virus, you should consider getting tested for the virus. You can do this by getting an at-home HPV test kit that will show up high-risk types of the HPV virus, which are most likely to cause cancer. Your data after this test will be secure and will be checked by a physician to ensure that you get accurate results and that you can relax in the knowledge that your results are private and safe.

You will then be able to stay aware of the fact that you have the HPV virus, which may encourage you to go for smear tests and get screened for the types of cancers that HPV can cause. Anyone can get the HPV virus, even if they are not sexually active or have been vaccinated, due to the fact that any skin-to-skin contact can pass on HPV and because the vaccine only prevents some strains of HPV. As such, you should not ignore your need for an HPV test just because you do not believe that you can get HPV.

The symptoms of HPV in women are subtle and not usually anything to worry about. However, while HPV is untreatable and usually passes on its own, it can put you at a higher risk of some cancers, so it is vital that you get tested if you are worried about your condition or about passing it on to others.