Sexual Health STDs HPV Are HPV and Genital Warts the Same Thing? By Lisa Fayed Lisa Fayed is a freelance medical writer, cancer educator and patient advocate. Learn about our editorial process Lisa Fayed Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD on August 11, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin instagram Anita Sadaty, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology. She is a clinical assistant professor at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and founder of Redefining Health Medical. Learn about our Medical Review Board Anita Sadaty, MD Updated on August 18, 2020 Print It's common to have questions about sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) - especially common ones like human papillomavirus (HPV). 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: LaylaBird / Getty Images An Overview of HPV There are more than 100 different strains of HPV - many of which are spread through 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. How HPV Can Lead to Genital Warts and Cancer Some strains of HPV—but not all—can cause genital warts. These are called the "low risk" strains of HPV because they do not increase risk for cancer. Genital warts is one of the most common types of STDs. Even when infected, however, only around 50 percent of women will have symptoms (warts) and an even smaller percentage of men will have symptoms. So is HPV the same as genital warts? No, they are not the same thing, though HPV can sometimes cause genital warts. Strains HPV 6 and HPV 11 account for 90% of genital warts. Some strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer, and these are referred to as the "high risk" strains. Strains HPV 16 and HPV 18 cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions. Another 20 percent 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. Risk Factors for Genital Warts There are several risk factors that can increase your odds of developing genital warts. Unlike other sexually-transmitted viruses, HPV is not spread by semen or vaginal fluid—it's spread by skin-to-skin contact. 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 the risk factors for genital warts include: Unprotected vaginal sexAnal sexOral sexGenital-to-genital contactChildbirthPrevious sexually transmitted diseaseMultiple sexual partners It's important to note that condoms lower the risk of transmission, but don't completely protect you from HPV. The Appearance of Genital Warts 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. Treatments 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 SinecatechinsPreparation that's applied by a physician (often once a week) includes podophylline, trichloroacetic acid, or bichloroacetic acidCryotherapy (freezing) for small wartsElectrocautery (burning the warts)Laser treatmentInterferon injected directly into the wartsSurgical 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. Do Genital Warts Raise Your Risk of Cervical Cancer? 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 a higher risk of contracting both genital warts and cervical cancer. The behaviors that can lead to developing genital warts—not the genital warts, themselves—are what increases your risk of cervical cancer. Can the HPV Vaccine Help Prevent Genital Warts? 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 Gardasil and Gardasil 9 are effective against HPV 6 and HPV 11, but the vaccine Cervarix does not. Notably, only Gardasil 9 is available for patients in the US. Gardasil is approved for patients ages 9 through 45, and most health organizations recommend vaccination between 11 and 12 years old. Importantly, the vaccine is only effective if a person receives it prior to infection. It cannot treat already-acquired HPV. The American Cancer Society (ACS) updated HPV vaccine guidelines recommend routine vaccination beginning at age 9 to help improve early vaccination rates, but recommends against vaccination in anyone older than 26. ACS is not in favor of vaccination in older people because those people are likely to have already been infected with HPV by that point, and also due to a global vaccine shortage that is expected to continue for some time. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. World Health Organization. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. January 2019. Cohen PA, Jhingran A, Oaknin A, Denny L. Cervical cancer. Lancet. 2019;393(10167):169-182. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32470-X Symer MM, Yeo HL. Recent advances in the management of anal cancer. F1000Res. 2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1572. doi:10.12688/f1000research.14518.1 Gardner CS, Sunil J, Klopp AH, et al. Primary vaginal cancer: role of MRI in diagnosis, staging and treatment. Br J Radiol. 2015;88(1052):20150033. doi:10.1259/bjr.20150033 Alkatout I, Schubert M, Garbrecht N, et al. Vulvar cancer: epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management options. Int J Womens Health. 2015;7:305–313. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S68979 Hakenberg OW, Dräger DL, Erbersdobler A, Naumann CM, Jünemann KP, Protzel C. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Penile Cancer. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(39):646–652. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0646 Saslow D, Andrews KS, Manassaram-baptiste D, et al. Human papillomavirus vaccination 2020 guideline update: American cancer society guideline adaptation. CA Cancer J Clin. Jul/Aug 2020;70(4):274-280. doi:10.3322/caac.21616 Additional Reading Carusi, D. Patient education:Genital warts in women (beyond the basics). UpToDate. Updated 06/22/15. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital HPV infection–CDC fact sheet. Jul 2017.