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Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts can be treated.
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What are genital warts?
Genital warts are small growths on the skin. They can be small, single warts, which may look like a change or different colour on the skin. Or they sometimes appear in small clusters of several warts, which looks like a small cauliflower.
Both women and men can be affected by genital warts. In women, they can affect the skin of the:
- upper thighs or skin around the genital area
- vulva, which is the external genital area that includes the labia and the clitoris
- vagina
- cervix
- anus, around the opening and inside.
In men, genital warts can affect the skin of the:
- upper thighs or skin around the genital area
- penis, outside and inside the urethra, which is where urine comes out
- scrotum, which is the skin covering testicles
- anus, around the opening and inside.
Genital warts should not cause any pain or serious problems. But they can be unpleasant and may upset or worry people. If the warts affect the skin around the penis, vagina or anus, they sometimes cause bleeding in that area.
If you think that you have genital warts, it is important to visit your GP, local sexual health clinic or GUM clinic. They will be able to diagnose and treat the infection. For information on how to access sexual health services near you, visit:
How do people get genital warts?
Genital warts are caused by HPV. HPV is a common virus that is passed on through skin-to-skin contact, including:
- vaginal sex
- anal sex
- oral sex
Although less likely, HPV can also be passed on by:
- touching in the genital area
- sharing sex toys.
The type of HPV that causes genital warts is called low-risk HPV. This means that the HPV sometimes causes unpleasant but harmless conditions, like genital warts, but nothing more serious. Low-risk HPV is not linked to cancer.
Treating genital warts
Genital warts are usually treated in 2 different ways:
Creams and liquids
Sometimes a cream or liquid is applied directly to the warts to help get rid of it. This is also called topical treatment.
There are several types of topical treatments. These attack the cells of the warts, or encourage your immune system to recognise and attack the warts. Topical treatments are usually given for softer warts.
Removing the warts
Warts can be destroyed or removed by:
- freezing them (cryotherapy)
- removing them with surgery (physical ablation).
Sometimes both types of treatment are used one after the other. People may need several rounds of treatment to get rid of genital warts completely.
Pregnancy and genital warts
If you are pregnant and have a history of genital warts, it is important to let your midwife know. During pregnancy, warts may get bigger or there may be more of them. Any warts are usually treated with cryotherapy.
There is a small risk of passing on the infection during a vaginal birth, but this is rare. If the infection is passed on, the warts usually appear in the child’s mouth. They are treated with cream or by removing them. Your doctor or midwife can give you more information.
Very rarely, large genital warts may appear on the cervix or block the birth canal. If this happens, the doctor may suggest a C-section (Caesarean delivery) but this is rare.
