What are early symptoms of HPV?

Genital warts are a common symptom of HPV, or the human papillomavirus, but most people do not know they are infected because they never develop any symptoms or health issues, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pap smears reveal HPV in women.

As of 2015, approximately 79 million people in the United States are infected with HPV, and 14 million new patients contract HPV each year, according to the CDC. Although no treatments specifically target HPV, health problems, such as genital warts, cervical precancer and HPV-related cancer, can be treated. Prevention methods include the HPV vaccine, condom usage and regular cervical cancer screenings.