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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staff
Detecting genital warts
Because it's often difficult to detect genital warts, your doctor may apply an acetic acid solution to your genitals to whiten any warts. Then, he or she may view them through a special microscope called a colposcope.
The importance of Pap tests
For women, it's important to have regular pelvic exams and Pap tests, which can help detect vaginal and cervical changes caused by genital warts or the early signs of cervical cancer — a possible complication of HPV infection.
Have an initial Pap test within three years of having sex or at age 21, whichever comes first. You may be able to reduce the frequency of your Pap tests if you're older than 30 and you've had three normal tests in a row. Talk with your doctor about the right screening schedule for you.
If you've had genital warts, you may need to have a Pap test every three to six months, depending on the severity of your condition.
- Human papillomavirus and genital warts. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseasese. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/stdhpv.htm. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
- HPV and genital warts. National Women's Health Information Center. http://www.4woman.gov/faq/stdhpv.pdf. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
- Carusi DA, et al. Patient information: Condyloma (genital warts) in Women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
- Diaz ML. Human papilloma virus - prevention and treatment. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics. 2007;35:199.
- HPV vaccine information for young women. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 26, 2009.
- Litin SC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 23, 2009.
