Endemic in the community, tracing HPV from person to person is fruitless. Sometimes it clears up on its own, without ever showing any symptom.
But if the body’s immune system is not capable of getting rid of the virus, it can lead to abnormal cells – similar to warts on the skin – growing on the cervix, which can sometimes turn into cancer.
Testing
Cervical screening, also called a smear or pap test, is low-cost and accurate. It finds abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.
Females who have been sexually active should get regular cervical screening every three years from age 25 until they turn 70.