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Genital warts are a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). You can get genital warts through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Genital warts appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. There is no treatment for HPV, but genital warts can be treated by your doctor. The providers at Capital Women’s Care located in Fulton, Maryland, offer testing and treatment for genital warts.
Genital warts are a type of STI caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). While there is no cure for HPV, you can get treated for genital warts. Genital warts appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. Some genital warts are so small you cannot see them.
About 400,000 Americans get genital warts each year.1 Researchers estimate that genital warts are more common in men.
Nearly all cases of genital warts are caused by HPV.
Genital warts are spread most often through direct skin-to-skin contact during vaginal or anal sex. HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, can be spread even if the person does not have any genital warts that you can see.
Rarely, genital warts are spread:
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They are flesh-colored and can be flat or look bumpy like cauliflower. Some genital warts are so small you cannot see them.
In women, genital warts can grow:
In men, genital warts can grow:
Genital warts can cause itching, burning, and discomfort. Talk to your doctor if you think you have genital warts.
Warts usually appear within months after having sexual contact with someone with the HPV types that cause genital warts. Sometimes the warts appear in just days or weeks, while other people do not show genital warts until years later. Some people may get HPV but never get genital warts.
There is no cure for HPV, but genital warts can be removed. If you decide to have warts removed, do not use over-the-counter medicines meant for other kinds of warts. There are special, prescription-only treatments for genital warts. Your doctor or nurse must prescribe the medicine for you.
Your doctor or nurse may apply a chemical to treat the warts in the doctor’s office, or prescribe a cream for you to apply at home. Surgery is also an option. Your doctor may:
Treatment can only remove the genital wart. Treatment does not cure HPV, the virus that causes genital warts.
No. Some people choose not to treat genital warts. If left untreated, genital warts may go away, stay the same, or grow in size and number. Genital warts will not turn into cancer.
Even if you treat the genital warts, you can still spread genital warts and HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, to other people. Doctors do not know how long you are contagious after warts appear.Could I still have HPV if I get my genital warts removed?
Yes. Even when warts are treated, you may still have HPV. This is why warts can come back after treatment. You can still spread HPV to other people after genital warts are removed.
If you had genital warts that went away on their own or were treated, you will probably not have any problems during your pregnancy. Tell your doctor or nurse if you or your partner has ever had genital warts.
Genital warts in women during pregnancy might:
The best way to prevent genital warts or any STI is to not have vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
If you do have sex, lower your risk of getting an STI with the following steps:
The steps work best when used together. No single step can protect you from every single type of STI.
Yes. It is possible to get genital warts, or any other STI, if you are a woman who has sex only with women.
Talk to your partner about her sexual history before having sex, and ask your doctor about getting tested if you have signs or symptoms of genital warts.
