What are the symptoms of HPV in the anus?

The symptoms of HPV-related anal cancer include:

• bleeding, discharge, pain, or itching of the anus.
• swelling of the lymph nodes in the anal or groin area.
• changes in bowel habits or the shape of stools.

What causes warts in the anus?

Anal warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted disease. Typically, they grow in and around the anus or the genitals. An anal fistula is a tunnel from the inside of the anus to the skin around it.

Do HPV warts go away?

In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area.

Can HPV be in the anus?

HPV infection can lead to a variety of different problems in and around the anus. These include anal warts, precancerous changes in the skin (AIN), or in rare cases anal cancer.

How do you test for HPV in the anus?

The anal Pap test is quick. Your provider inserts a swab that looks like a long Q-tip into your anus, collects a sample of cells and sends them to a pathologist in a lab. The pathologist then views these cells under a microscope to determine if they are normal, dysplastic (precancerous) or cancerous.

How long do warts last untreated?

Most warts will persist for one to two years if they are left untreated. Eventually, the body will recognize the virus and fight it off, causing the wart to disappear.

How do you get HPV in the anus?

Any contact exposure to the anal area (hand contact, secretions from a sexual partner) can result in HPV infection. Exposure to the virus could have occurred many years ago or from prior sexual partners, but you may have just recently developed the actual warts.