HPV Infection - Symptoms

Symptoms of an HPV infection

The most common symptom of an HPV infection is genital warts. In some cases, HPV can also lead to cervical cell changes. 

Most people have an HPV infection and are not aware of it because it is subclinical, i.e. invisible to the naked eye. It is also possible that some people may have genital warts without knowing it, as some warts may be hard to see.

The period between contracting the HPV virus type that causes warts and seeing the developed warts, varies so this can make it impossible to know when you were infected. Often, HPV warts will appear three to six months after sexual relations with an infected person; or they may never appear. Likewise, the interval between an infection with HPV and changes to cervical cells can vary from months to decades. The delay of these symptoms makes it hard to know exactly when or from whom you got the HPV virus.

Such inconsistencies can be difficult to understand – especially for partners in long-term relationships who feel that some recent infidelity must be to blame. Partners will inevitably share HPV. There is no way to know which partner it came from or how long ago. Having HPV does not mean that a person or their partner is having sex outside the current relationship.

Evidence suggests that the majority of individuals who have ever been sexually active experience one or more genital HPV infections during their lifetime. Most HPV infections clear spontaneously.

About HPV

About HPV

HPV is thought to be the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world, and most people are infected with HPV at some time in their…
HPV Key Facts

HPV Key Facts

HPV infection - key information – Vaccination against HPV has been available for many years. 80% of unvaccinated adults will pick up HPV at some point…
HPV Strains

HPV Strains

Papilloma is a word that means a small wart-like growth on the skin or mucous membrane. There are many types of papilloma infections - even some that…
HPV & Cancer

HPV & Cancer

While HPV is an extremely common infection, and there is a link between HPV and cervical, anal, penile, some vulval and throat cancers, it is…
HPV & Throat Cancer

HPV & Throat Cancer

HPV is transmitted to your mouth by oral sex. It may also be possible to get oral HPV in other ways. An increased number of oral sex partners…
HPV & Cervical Cancer

HPV & Cervical Cancer

Some types of HPV are linked to abnormal cell changes on the cervix which place women at higher risk of abnormal cervical smears and developing…
HPV & Other Cancers

HPV & Other Cancers

HPV and penile cancer – HPV-related penile cancers most often affect the ‘head’ of the penis and are rare. HPV and anal cancer – HPV-associated anal…
FAQ

FAQ

Frequently asked questions and key facts about HPV – Human Papillomavirus – FAQ's
HPV & Relationships

HPV & Relationships

The emotional impact of finding out that you or your partner has an STI can sometimes be worse than the actual infection. It’s really important to…