Genital Warts

How are they passed?
Genital warts are passed on through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, by sharing sex toys or direct skin-to-skin contact.

Signs and Symptoms
Not everyone with the virus will develop visible warts but they can still infect others. Genital warts can appear weeks, months, or years after sex with an infected person. When warts are present they are usually painless but may cause some inflammation. Warts can be flat, smooth, small bumps or larger cauliflower-like lumps that occur on their own or in groups.

In women, they can appear anywhere around the vulva and anus, and also inside the vagina or anus, or on the cervix. In men, they can appear anywhere around the urethra, penis, scrotum or anus. They can also appear inside the anus.

Tests and Treatment
Usually warts can be seen with the naked eye. If they are suspected, but not obvious, the area is painted with a special solution to make them more visible.

Warts are easy to treat, but more than one treatment may be needed. Treatment can include covering the warts with a chemical lotion or cream, freezing them off or removing them by laser treatment or surgery.

Genital warts do not cause any serious health problems but the virus always remains in the body. No treatment can remove the virus completely.

Some types of the wart virus are linked to changes in cervical cells which could lead to cervical cancer. These changes can take many years, so it is important women have regular pap smears, whether or not they have had genital warts. Only a few women with certain types of wart virus in their cervix have the kind of cell changes linked with cancer. Men can also have cell changes linked with cancer.

NOTE: Never self-treat genital warts with over-the-counter remedies! Also, some medicines must never be used by pregnant women so be sure to tell your provider if you may be pregnant.

For more information visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.