Genital Warts

What are genital warts?

Genital warts are warts that are found on the genitals (private parts.) They are a sexually transmitted infection (STI.) Sexually transmitted infections are viruses and bacteria (germs) that can be passed from one person to another during sex or intimate contact.

Genital warts affect both men and women.

What causes genital warts?

Genital warts are caused by a virus. The virus is called the human papilloma virus (often shortened to “HPV.”)

There are many different types of HPV. These different types can be found on different places on the body.

Most genital warts are caused by HPV types 6 and 11. These are different types to those that cause cervical cancer.

How do you catch genital warts?

Genital warts can be passed on by any kind of sex or intimate contact. You don’t have to be having penetrative sex to catch genital warts. They are caught by having contact with an area of skin that is infected with the genital warts virus.

Using condoms does not stop you catching the genital warts virus, as condoms only cover the penis. You can catch genital warts by having contact with the skin around the penis.

It is possible to catch the genital warts virus from somebody who does not have any warts.

You cannot catch genital warts from toilet seats, cups and cutlery or from being in a swimming pool with someone who has genital warts.

What do genital warts look like?

Many people carry the virus for genital warts and do not ever get warts. They may never know that they have the virus.

Warts can grow weeks, months or even years after you catch the virus.

The warts can grow anywhere around the genitals and anus. They may also grow inside the vagina, urethra or anus.

You may only have one wart, or you may have many. Some warts are tiny, others can grow larger. They may appear as a flat bump on the skin, or as a fleshy growth (like a wart you might see on your finger).

How are genital warts diagnosed?

You will need to see a sexual health doctor or nurse in a clinic such as Conifer. The doctor or nurse will examine your genitals and will tell you if you have any warts. They may need to look inside your vagina or anus to see if you have any warts there.

How are genital warts treated?

For most people, genital warts do not cause any health problems. They are only treated because people do not like having warts on their genitals.

Most warts will eventually clear away on their own, but treatment can help get rid of them faster.

Warts may be treated with a cream or liquid, or they may be frozen off. Treatment can last several weeks.

The warts may also come back in the future and need to be treated again.

Do genital warts cause cervical cancer?

No. The viruses that cause most genital warts (HPV types 6 and 11,) are different to the viruses that have been linked with cervical cancer (mostly HPV types 16 and 18.)

All women over 25 should have regular smear tests, regardless of whether they have genital warts or not.

References:

'Genital Tract Infections.' In Obstetrics and Gynaecology, by Impey L. and Child T., 71-78. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.

Family Planning Association. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Genital Warts. 2006.

http://www.fpa.org.uk/Information/Readourinformationbooklets/Genitalwarts. 2006.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Genital_warts/Pages/Introduction.aspx (accessed 22nd September 2009)

The Department for Education and Skills. Genital Warts. Year of publication unknown. http://www.condomessentialwear.co.uk/stis-stds/genital-warts-diagnosis-and-treatment (accessed 22nd September 2009)

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Genital_warts/Pages/Treatment.aspx (accessed 22nd September 2009)

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Genital_warts/Pages/Treatment.aspx (accessed 22nd September 2009)

'Genital Tract Infections.' In Obstetrics and Gynaecology, by Impey L. and Child T., 71-78. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.

Oxbridge Solutions Ltd. HPV and Genital Cancer. 2009.