Genital warts

Genital warts

Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).

They are caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Symptoms of genital warts

It can take a few weeks or months for genital warts to appear after becoming infected.

Genital warts are usually small, rough lumps on the skin.

They can appear:

• around the vagina and on the penis
• around the anus
• on the skin between the genitals and the anus

Genital warts may:

• appear on their own or in a group (groups of warts can look like a cauliflower)
• feel soft or firm
• be white, red, skin-coloured, or darker than the surrounding skin

They don’t usually cause symptoms but can sometimes be painful, itchy or bleed.

When to get medical advice

Speak to your GP practice or local sexual health clinic if you have:

• 1 or more painless lumps or growths around your vagina, penis or anus
• itching or bleeding from your genitals or anus
• a sexual partner (s) who has genital warts

Testing for genital warts

The test for genital warts involves an examination of the genital area.

If you think you might have genital warts, get checked for free by:

• contacting your GP practice for an appointment
• booking an appointment at your local sexual health service

Warts must be diagnosed by a doctor or nurse.

Treatment for genital warts

Treatment for genital warts is not always needed. They sometimes disappear on their own within 6 months.

If treatment is recommended, it’ll be prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor or nurse may advise you to avoid sex while you’re having treatment for genital warts.

The type of treatment you’ll be offered depends on what your warts are like. Your doctor or nurse will discuss this with you.

Treatment options include:

• cream or liquid
• freezing
• surgery

Cream or liquid

You can usually apply this to the warts yourself a few times a week for several weeks.

Freezing

A doctor or nurse freezes the warts with liquid nitrogen, usually every week for 4 weeks.

Surgery

A doctor or nurse can cut or burn the warts off. This is usually only recommended if the warts are not responding or are too large for cream or freezing. Side effects of these treatments include:

• bleeding
• wound infection
• scarring

Genital warts and pregnancy

Genital warts are not usually harmful during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, genital warts may:

• multiply and get bigger (they may be removed if they’re very big)
• become more easily irritated
• be passed on to the baby during childbirth, but this is very rare (the HPV virus can cause infection in the baby’s throat or genitals)

Most creams, liquids and ointments used to treat genital warts are not recommended during pregnancy. Freezing can be used but it’s often not very successful.

Genital warts usually disappear on their own within 6 weeks after childbirth.

How genital warts are passed on

You can get genital warts from skin to skin contact.

Other ways of getting genital warts include:

• unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (sex without a condom)
• sharing sex toys with an infected person

How to prevent genital warts

The best way to reduce your risk of STIs is to practice safer sex. This means using a condom for vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and when sharing sex toys.

You can get warts even if you use condoms, as a condom does not cover the whole genital area.

The HPV vaccination will reduce your risk of getting HPV virus which causes warts. However, it doesn’t treat warts once you have them.

HPV and cancer

Genital warts are not cancer and don’t cause cancer. They’re caused by a different strain of HPV.

HPV vaccination is offered to every person aged 11 to 13. The vaccine can protect against cervical cancer also protects against genital warts.

The HPV vaccine is also offered to men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans people aged up to 45 years.

If you didn’t have the vaccine at school and don’t fulfill the above criteria, you can pay for the vaccine privately.

Other STIs

If you’ve been diagnosed with genital warts it’s recommended that you’re tested for all STIs including:

• chlamydia
• gonorrhoea
• syphilis
• HIV