Effects of Human Papillomavirus and Genital Warts

HPV is an infection that, once you get it, never goes away. When you have HPV, you need to be sure to see your health care provider on a regular basis for check ups. If you have symptoms, such as genital warts, you need to seek treatment right away. It is easy to give HPV to another person and you can infect someone even when you have no symptoms.

Some types of HPV can cause cancer of the cervix. But for most women, HPV does not turn into cancer of the cervix. It is important to have regular pelvic exams and Pap tests if a woman has abnormal cervical cells. Other types of HPV may be related to cancer of the vulva, anus, and penis (a very rare cancer).

During pregnancy and childbirth, HPV can cause a number of problems. Genital warts can become larger during pregnancy, making it hard to urinate. If warts are inside the vagina, they can cause problems during birth by blocking the vagina. Although rare, infants born to women with genital warts can get warts in their throats (called laryngeal papillomatosis). This can be life threatening for the baby and often requires laser surgery to help the baby breathe.