Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)

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A doctor usually can diagnose visible genital warts using your medical history and a physical exam. But not all HPV infections cause visible warts. If you don't have any visible genital warts or other symptoms, it may be hard for your doctor to diagnose HPV infection. Your doctor may ask you the following questions:

  • Do you think you were exposed to HPV or any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? How do you know? Did your partner tell you?
  • What are your symptoms? If you have discharge from the vagina or penis, it is important to note any smell or color.
  • Did you use condoms to protect against STDs?
  • Which sexual behaviors do you or your partner engage in, including high-risk behaviors such as sex with multiple partners?
  • Have you had an STD in the past? How was it treated?
  • Have you ever had an abnormal Pap test (for women)?

For women

After your doctor takes your medical history, you will have a gynecological exam, which usually includes a Pap test.

A Pap test screens for abnormal cells on the cervix. Results of the Pap test may indicate an HPV infection even though you have no visible warts.

Women over 30 may get a screening test for HPV at the same time as a Pap test. This HPV test looks for the DNA (genetic information) of the virus. Women under 30 usually get the HPV test only if they have an abnormal Pap test.4

If your doctor finds areas of abnormal tissue on the cervix (which may be related to HPV infection), he or she may recommend treatment.

For men

After the medical history, you will have a physical exam for genital warts.

There is no screening test for HPV infection in men. But even though there are no formal guidelines, some experts believe that men who receive anal sex should have a routine anal Pap test, especially if they also have HIV infection. Ask your doctor whether and how often you should be tested.

For men and women

If visible warts are present, a diagnosis can usually be made without more testing.

When your doctor finds abnormal tissue but cannot make a definite diagnosis, you may have a biopsy for lab tissue studies.

Testing for the type of HPV that is causing warts is not useful for diagnosis. This test is not routinely done for diagnosis or treatment of genital warts.

By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: June 28, 2010
Medical Review: Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease

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