The use of a condom is essential to protect yourself and your partners against STDs. It is recommended that women aged between 25 and 64 have HPV screening and that young girls aged from 12 to 14 years old (up to 18 years old) are vaccinated against HPV.
What are the symptoms of an HPV infection?
Most HPV infections do not lead to any symptoms, or a disease and clear up spontaneously.
Only a small minority of infected people develop symptoms.
If symptoms arise, the can appear at any time from 3 weeks to 8 months after becoming infected:
- small warts on the genitals and the anus
- small groups of nodules.
In women, genital warts are found:
- in the vagina
- on the cervix
- around the anus
- and sometimes on the thighs.
In men, genital warts are found:
- at the tip of the penis or on the shaft
- around the anus
- on the upper thighs.
Symptoms of cervical cancer generally appear when the cancer is already at an advanced stage:
- irregular bleeding, between periods
- bleeding after sexual intercourse
- pain in the back, the legs or the pelvis
- fatigue
- loss of weight
- loss of appetite
- vaginal discomfort or foul-smelling discharge
- swelling in one leg.