Symptoms-Physical and Pyschological
Genital warts
Though usually painless, symptoms for genital warts include:
Itching, or burning sensation, occasional minor bleeding as a result of anal sex or bowel movement.
The cauliflower-like growths are unsightly and embarrassing and associated with a high incidence of depression, sexual dysfunction and disruptions to long-term relationships.
Research conducted among people with visible genital warts and who were diagnosed with HPV reported feelings of:
- Depression, shame, guilt;
- Fear of rejection by their partner, loss of sexuality and enjoyment of sex.
Pre-cancerous lesions
Cervical dysplasia seldom causes any noticeable symptoms. It is usually detected through a Pap test (smear) or colposcopy. HPV infection has social and psychological consequences. Studies of women who have received abnormal Pap test results indicate that they often experience psychological consequences including:
- Anxiety, fears about cancer;
- Sexual difficulties;
- Changes in body image;
- Concerns about loss of reproductive functions.
