Warts, which can develop into tumors if left untreated, are not always easy to detect. Most people do not know they have it. The disease can take anywhere from several months to several years to cause warts, and these are frequently difficult to detect because they are small, inside the vagina on the cervix or inside the urethra. According to Peterson, the only reliable way for women to detect the internal lesions is to have regular Pap smears. Unfortunately, doctors do not yet have a reliable screening tool for detecting HPV in men.
People can make detection of external lesions easier by swabbing the genital area with vinegar.
Although they are not necessarily warts, areas that look lighter represent potential problems that should be examined by a health care professional. Early detection is the key to preventing the more serious consequences of an HPV infection. Early detection allows doctors to eliminate problematic lesions with a minimum of discomfort, time and expense. Doctors have a variety of options for treating the lesions once they are detected. This means that a condom is not enough to prevent infection, she said.