Genital warts may appear on a man's penis, anus, or in between the scrotum and penis. In women, they're found on the outside of the vagina on the vulva, or inside the vagina and even on the cervix. Sometimes they're too small (or hidden) to be seen. When genital warts are visible, they may be:
Skin-colored
Sometimes slightly darker than skin color
Flat
Raised like tiny pieces of cauliflower
In singles or groups
Of any size, large or small
Smooth or textured on the surface
Other symptoms of genital warts can include bleeding from the vagina after sex, moisture in the genital area, and genital itching. Genital warts can also cause vaginal discharge.
Risk Factors for Genital Warts
Having unprotected sex with someone who has HPV is a major risk factor for genital warts. Regular use of condoms, as well as having only one sexual partner (who is also monogamous) will help to reduce your risk of genital warts. If you have genital warts, using a condom will also decrease the risk of spread to other people, but even condom use can't completely prevent the spread of HPV.
Even after genital warts are treated, you may still be able to spread the HPV sexually because the virus may remain hidden in deeper layers of the skin. But having genital warts removed does help reduce the risk of HPV transmission.
The HPV virus type that caused the genital warts does not cause cervical cancer or cancer of the penis, but if you're infected with the wart-causing type, it's possible that you are also infected with more dangerous types of HPV. So regular Pap smears and pelvic exams are a good idea for women who have had genital warts.
Diagnosing, Treating, and Preventing Genital Warts
Genital warts can be easily diagnosed during a physical exam. They don't require treatment, but treatment can help if the the warts are itchy or uncomfortable. Without treatment, they may get bigger and even more uncomfortable — and more visible.
The virus itself, however, cannot be treated, notes Shuford. "We don't have a medicine to eradicate that infection. But once it causes the genital warts, we can treat the warts. There are topical medicines that you can put over the warts that may help them regress or go away," says Shuford. Warts can also be removed via cryosurgery (freezing) or even cut off.
"Even with all of these treatments, a significant number of these warts will come back and will need to be treated again," says Shuford. But the body will often get rid of
HPV on its own. "Ninety percent of infections will go away on their own within two years," says Shuford. “If they're treated and don't necessarily respond to the treatment, there's a good chance that the body will get rid of the warts on its own."
While perhaps not the most serious of sexually transmitted infections, genital warts are certainly a concern. Consistent and correct condom use can help decrease the risk of HPV infection. But with HPV, abstinence is the only way to completely avoid it.
