How to Diagnose Genital Warts or Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Genital Warts, an STD caused by certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), can affect the genital areas in both men and women. This virus may affect the penis, vaginal opening and surrounding organs, rectum, urinary tract and/or bladder. Early diagnosis of both is important to prevent serious complications, including cancer. Read on to learn more about how medical professionals diagnose genital warts or Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Schedule an examination with your doctor if you notice symptoms indicating genital warts and/or have a new or multiple sex partners. This disease is difficult to diagnose--only 10 percent of cases show visible warts--because the virus often develops beneath the skin, and generally has no symptoms.
2. Ask your doctor to perform a colposcopy. This is an examination using a colposcope, an instrument with a light and magnifying instrument attached so the doctor can perform a thorough examination. If no warts are visible, a vinegar wash may be used; this causes the virus beneath the skin to turn white.
3. Schedule a pap smear yearly. The laboratory examinations often reveal the presence of HPV, especially the subclinical manifestation of the disease. Testing is important not only to procure treatment for yourself, but also to protect your sexual partners.
4. Have your clinician do a microscopic examination of the cervical tissue or tissue from the penis. HPV can be detected even in tissue or fluid samples infected with small amounts.
5. Tell your doctor if you have pain or discomfort in the bladder or urinary tract. Often bleeding and difficulty in urination accompanies these symptoms; these are signs that men, in particular, must be aware of because of the common lack of visible warts.

Tips & Warnings

• Always require condom use during sexual intercourse to reduce your chances of getting genital warts or passing on the HPV virus.
• Abstinence is the best way to prevent genital warts from happening. For sexually active partners, single partners is the best way to go.
• Do not use vaginal medications, tampons, vaginal creams or douches for 48 hours before any microscopic examination or testing is done.