Genital warts
What are genital warts?
Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). This virus can affect the hands, feet and genital area. This information is about genital warts.
How are they passed on?
Genital warts are passed on through unprotected vaginal or anal sex, by sharing sex toys or direct skin-to-skin genital contact.
Signs and symptoms
Not everyone with the virus will develop visible warts. 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 men, they can appear anywhere around the urethra, penis, scrotum or anus. They can also appear inside the anus
- in women, they can appear anywhere around the vulva and anus, and also inside the vagina or anus, or on the cervix.
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 cervical smears, whether or not they have had genital warts.
- IMPORTANT: never self-treat genital warts with over the counter remedies
Contacts
The contacts database contains details of organisations that may be able to offer information or assistance on this issue.
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