Are HPV and Genital Warts the Same Thing?

It's common to have questions about sexually-transmitted viruses. For instance, you might be wondering: Is HPV the same as genital warts? Since HPV can sometimes lead to cervical cancer, does having genital warts raise your risk for cancer? Which HPV vaccines may help prevent genital warts? Below, find answers to these questions and more information on the topic. 

There are more than 100 different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), at least 30 of which are spread by sexual contact. More than 50 percent of sexually active adults are thought to be infected with at least one strain of the virus, and up to 80 percent of sexually active women will have been exposed to at least one strain of the virus by the time they turn 50.

Some strains of HPV—but not all—cause genital warts. Genital warts caused by HPV are one of the more common types of sexually transmitted diseases. Even when infected, however, only around 50 percent of women will have symptoms (warts) and an even smaller percentage of men will have symptoms. Strains HPV 6 and HPV 11 account for 90 percent of genital warts. So is HPV the same as genital warts? No, they are not the same thing, though HPV can sometimes cause genital warts. 

Some strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer, but these are different from the strains that can cause genital warts. Strains HPV 16 and HPV 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions. Another 20% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.

Certain HPV strains can also cause anal cancer, oral cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, and penile cancer—the culprit for these is often HPV 16, which is different from the two strains that cause most cases of genital warts.

There are several risk factors that can increase your odds of developing genital warts. It's important to note that condoms lower the risk of transmission, but don't completely protect you from HPV. Unlike other sexually-transmitted viruses, like HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HPV is not spread by semen or vaginal fluid—it's spread by skin-to-skin contact, and even when a condom is on a penis, part of the skin of the penis can still touch a partner's groin area. 

Some of these risk factors include:

• Unprotected vaginal sex
• Anal sex
• Oral sex
• Genital-to-genital contact
• Childbirth
• Previous sexually transmitted disease
• Multiple sexual partners

Genital warts, also called condyloma accuminata, are small pink- or flesh-colored lesions that look like small pieces of cauliflower.

In women, they most commonly occur on the labia or the opening to the vagina.  Genital warts in men occur less often than in women, despite equal infection rates. When warts develop, the most common site is the tip of the penis, though they may also appear on the shaft or on the testicles. Warts around the anus may develop, even without having anal sex.

Having oral sex with someone who is infected with an HPV strain that causes genital warts can cause warts in the mouth and throat.

There are several options available for treating genital warts. Some you can do yourself, while others require a visit to the doctor. Even when treated, however, genital warts frequently recur, and you may require more than one type of treatment to get rid of them. That said, genital warts don't necessarily require treatment, so ask your physician what is best in your particular case. Treatments include:

• Preparations that people can apply themselves include Podofilox, Imiquimod, and Sinecatechins
• Preparation that's applied by a physician (often once a week) includes podophylline, trichloroacetic acid, or bichloroacetic acid
• Cryotherapy (freezing) for small warts
• Electrocautery (burning the warts)
• Laser treatment
• Interferon injected directly into the warts
• Surgical treatment

The type of treatment that's recommended depends on the size of the warts, how many there are, and where they are located. Some treatments are not recommended for women who are pregnant.

If you're wondering whether genital warts raise your risk of cervical cancer, this is a good question. It's tricky. The answer is, well, yes and no.

As mentioned earlier, the strains of HPV that cause genital warts are not the same strains that cause cervical cancer. So the technical answer is: no. However, the risk factors that can lead to a person getting genital warts are the same as the ones that can lead to a person getting cervical cancer—since both conditions are caused by strains of the same virus. For instance, if you're a woman who has unprotected sex, especially with multiple partners, you are at higher risk of contracting both genital warts and cervical cancer. In other words, the behaviors that can lead to developing genital warts—not the genital warts, themselves—are what increase your risk of cervical cancer.

Whether or not the HPV vaccine offers protection against genital warts depends on the specific vaccine that you receive. As noted above, around 90 percent of genital warts are caused by HPV 6 and HPV 11. Both the vaccines Gardasil and Gardasil 9 are effective against HPV 6 and HPV 11. While the vaccine Cervarix offers protection against several of the cancer-causing strains of HPV, it is not designed to protect against HPV 6 and HPV 11.