Most people who have HPV do not know it. However, if you have warts or lesions on the genitals or on your hands, feet, mouth, or throat you probably have an HPV infection. A doctor can diagnose these conditions based on their appearance. However, since the types of HPV infection that cause warts tend not to be the same ones that cause cancer, it can be important to find out if you are infected with a high-risk type of HPV.

A Pap test, performed as part of the annual gynecological examination that all sexually active girls and women should have, examines cells of the cervix for abnormalities. If everything appears normal on the Pap and you are 30 years of age or older, a doctor may order an HPV DNA test of the cervical cells to determine if you have a high-risk HPV infection. This DNA test can detect many of the high-risk HPV types that are associated with cervical cancer (including types 16 and 18 that together are responsible for the majority of cases).  If your Pap shows abnormalities, the doctor may order an HPV DNA test to see if HPV is causing the cell changes.

If both your Pap test and the HPV DNA test are negative, the doctor will usually ask for another HPV DNA test in three years. If the Pap test is positive for abnormalities or the HPV DNA test shows that you are infected with a high-risk type of HPV, the doctor will discuss your options for further tests.