STDs: Every Type, Signs, Testing, and Prevention
What Are Genital Warts?
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Genital warts can occur as a result of having human papillomavirus (HPV)—a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). If you have genital warts, you'll notice that they look like small, raised bumps on or near your genitals and anus.
While anyone can have genital warts, most people who develop them are between the ages of 17 and 33. Research estimates that between 10% and 20% of the general population have the type of HPV that can cause genital warts, though only about 1% of people with HPV tend to develop warts.
At this time, there is no outright cure for genital warts, however, treatments can help manage symptoms and reduce the appearance of the warts.
Not everyone with an HPV infection has the specific type or strain of HPV that causes genital warts. Most people who develop genital warts have HPV type 6 or type 11. It's also important to note that 90% of people who have these two types of HPV never develop symptoms at all.
In the chance you do experience genital warts, you may experience the following symptoms:
Typically, genital warts can develop in or around any of the following areas:
There are over 100 types of HPV, of which two—types 6 and 11—lead to 90% of genital warts cases. In most cases, your body's immune system is able to keep the virus at bay, preventing the infection from producing wart symptoms.
HPV is an STI, meaning it's primarily transmitted through sexual contact with someone else who has the infection. Typically, it takes anywhere from a few weeks to months after getting the virus before you develop genital warts or other HPV symptoms. You can get or transmit HPV through the following ways:
While anyone can develop genital warts, some people are at a higher risk of experiencing symptoms. The risk factors for genital warts due to HPV include:
If you suspect you have genital warts or know about your HPV status, it may be a good idea to see your healthcare provider for proper testing. Since genital warts are relatively common, a range of providers can diagnose you with warts, including:
Type of Provider Specialty Primary care provider General or family medicine Urologist All urinary tracts and the male reproductive system Gynecologist Female reproductive system Dermatologist SkinIn order to give you with an accurate diagnosis for genital warts, your healthcare provider can use the following diagnostic assessments and tests:
Generally, diagnosing genital warts also involves ruling out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms or bumps. Your healthcare provider may also test you for the following conditions:
There's no outright cure for genital warts, so the goals of treatment are to manage symptoms and reduce the appearance of warts. Keep in mind: there is no cure for HPV so your body can't get rid of the virus that causes genital warts. However, managing the warts or removing them can help reduce your changes of transmitting the infection to someone else.
There are two main types of treatment for genital warts: topical solutions and surgical removal. Here's what you need to know about each.
Topical MedicationsTo help reduce the appearance of genital warts and manage any burning or itching you might be experiencing, your healthcare provider can prescribe any of the following skin creams:
In the case topical treatments help and your genital warts become more severe, your provider can suggest surgical removal. Surgical procedures focus on physically removing the genital warts from your skin. There are a variety of procedures to help remove warts, including:
Since HPV is an STI, abstaining from sexual activity of any kind will prevent you from contracting the disease in the first place. However, refraining from having sex isn't always possible. So it's more important to practice safe sex by using condoms or dental dams to reduce your risk of getting or transmitting the infection.
In addition, getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to prevent getting HPV and experiencing genital warts. Gardasil is the specific vaccine that's effective for HPV 6 and 11—so if this is something you're looking to get, talk to your healthcare provider for more information and whether this vaccine is right for you.
Compromised immunity (or having a lower functioning immune system function) can increase your risk of developing genital warts due to HPV. That said, making certain lifestyle changes can boost immunity. You might try the following strategies:
While there is no cure for both HPV and genital warts, having warts is not life-threatening and the risk of developing complications is very low. In most cases, people with HPV may not ever develop genital warts or other symptoms. However, if you do develop symptoms, treatments can reduce the appearance of your warts and manage any related burning or itching that may occur.
Keep in mind: even with treatment, genital treatments can often come back. In fact, most people with warts have recurring warts within three months of treatment. However, consistent treatment and getting routine check-ups can help you better manage the condition, reduce symptoms, and lower your chances of transmitting the infection to your sexual partners.
In some cases, having genital warts can affect your emotional well-being. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your warts or feel distressed about your condition, it can be helpful to talk to a mental health professional about your concerns. Not only can they help you come to terms with your condition, but may also help you learn how to talk to your sexual partners about your infection.
7 Sources
Health.Com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus. Genital warts.
Leslie SW, Sajjad H, Kumar S. Genital warts. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
American Academy of Dermatology. Genital warts: signs and symptoms
American Academy of Dermatology. Genital warts: who gets and causes.
Gofur NRP, Gofur ARP, Soesilaningtyas, Gofur RNRP, Kahdina M, Putri HM. Warts of HPV infection, clinical manifestation and management: a review article. J Pharma Res Dev; 2022 13(1): 1-4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HPV vaccination recommendation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Six tips to enhance immunity.
HPV / Genital Warts Tests Directory
HPV is diagnosed by a cell sample taken to find the DNA typical of HPV in women. Not all HPV viruses cause symptoms. Genital warts are caused by a type of HPV and can be present in men or women. A doctor will visually examine warts to determine if they are caused by HPV. Sometimes a biopsy of the wart is necessary. Women may be screened for HPV since it can cause cervical cancer, but men are not screened. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about how HPV and genital warts are diagnosed, what tests are used, who should be tested, and much more.
Medical Reference Features Quizzes News Archive View AllHPV: What It Is, Symptoms In Men Vs. Women & Treatment
Mandi Harenberg
TUESDAY, May 30, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Talking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be uncomfortable. But whether you're talking to your partner, child or doctor, these are important conversations to have.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 20% of Americans had an STI in 2018. There are still more undetected, unreported and untreated STIs that can result in "serious health consequences."
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common STI in the United States, so it's important to know the facts.
The CDC reports there were 43 million HPV infections in the United States in 2018. It's a virus, and Mayo Clinic says it's so widespread that an estimated 85% of all people will become infected with HPV in their lifetime.
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Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases physician, said in a recent article that "the scary thing about this virus is that it also is a virus that can cause cancer."
The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) explains HPV and cancer this way: There are over 200 viruses related to HPV. Sexually transmitted HPV is separated into low-risk HPV and high-risk HPV. High-risk HPV, specifically HPV-16 and HPV-18, is responsible for a majority of HPV-related cancers.
HPV spreads through close, intimate contact with someone infected with the virus. This includes vaginal, anal and oral sex, or skin-to-skin contact.
Anyone who is sexually active can contract the virus.
According to Mayo Clinic, you're at a higher risk for contracting sexually transmitted HPV if you:
It's common for a person, male or female, to be infected with HPV and not have any symptoms at all. However, the CDC warns an asymptomatic person with HPV can still infect someone else.
There are certain strains of HPV that can cause symptoms like genital warts or even cancer.
HPV in women: Mayo Clinic explains genital warts are small bumps, brown or pink in color, found on the vulva, vaginal walls, anus or cervix. They can also appear in the mouth or throat.
Genital warts can cause itching and discomfort, as well as bleeding with intercourse.
The NCI says long-term, high-risk HPV can infect cells and cause cancer of the cervix. They recommend regular cervical cancer screenings for early detection.
High-risk HPV can also cause cancer of the oropharynx, vagina, anus and vulva. Itching and bleeding are signs of a precancerous lesion.
HPV in men: Men can also develop genital warts that are similar in appearance. For men, genital warts can develop on the penis, scrotum, anus, and the mouth and throat.
There's also a cancer risk for men with high-risk HPV. Left untreated over a long period of time, the virus can modify cells and develop into cancer. This includes penile, anal and oropharyngeal cancer.
There's no treatment for HPV; however, treatment is available for health problems that develop as a result of contracting it.
For genital warts, your health care provider can prescribe topical medications. Prescription medications such as imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara) and sinecatechins (Veregen) are commonly used for treating genital warts, according to the Mayo Clinic.
There are U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved cervical cancer screenings that can detect high-risk HPV in cervical cells. There's also a Pap test that can identify precancerous cell changes. NCI says early detection is important.
To reduce your risk of contracting HPV, the CDC offers a few suggestions.
First, being in a monogamous sexual relationship and talking to your partner about his or her sexual history before having sex can lower your risk.
Condoms and dental dams can also help reduce your risk of contracting HPV, but neither provides 100% protection from the virus.
Another preventive measure is the HPV vaccine GARDASIL 9. This vaccine has significantly lowered HPV infections and cervical pre-cancers in girls and young women, according to the CDC.
"This is a really effective, really safe vaccine that is unique because it is a vaccine that prevents cancer," Rajapakse said.
She says the HPV vaccine is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls, but it can be given to children as young as 9. Ideally, a child or young person should be vaccinated before they become sexually active.
The vaccine is not recommended for anyone older than 26 since they've likely already had exposure to HPV. The vaccine might not be effective when given to someone already infected with HPV.
Knowing the facts about HPV can help you make informed decisions about prevention and treatment. Talk to your health care provider if you're concerned about exposure to human papillomavirus or for more information about the HPV vaccine.
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