Sexual Health STDs HPV What Are Genital Warts? 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 19, 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 on August 19, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Genital warts, also known as condylomata acuminata, are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It's estimated that 340,000 to 360,000 people are affected by genital warts each year in the United States, though many infections do not cause symptoms. Genital Warts Symptoms Genital warts affect the moist tissue of the genital area. They may appear as small, flesh-colored bumps or as a group of bumps in the genital area. They can vary in size and sometimes appear shaped like a cauliflower. In most instances, the warts are too small to be seen. In women, genital warts most commonly occur on the labia and near the opening of the vagina. On men, they are most common at the tip of the penis but may occur along the shaft as well. Both men and women may develop warts around the opening to the anus. Anal sex is not necessary for these to occur. Men and women may also develop genital warts in the mouth or throat related to oral sex. Causes Genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). There are roughly 100 different types of HPV infections with around 30 of which are transmitted as sexually. If you've been learning about genital warts you may be feeling confused and just a little nervous. That is because there is a lot of misunderstanding about the HPV virus and the complications of different strains of the virus. While HPV is the cause of genital warts, the strains which cause genital warts are not the strains which cause cancer. Around 90% of genital warts are caused by HPV 6 and HPV 11. In contrast, roughly 70% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18 and most oral cancers caused by HPV are due to HPV 16. Another 20% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV types 31, 33, 34, 45, 52, and 58. In other words, the strains of HPV which cause genital warts are different than the strains which cause cervical cancer and vice versa. On the other hand, the risk factors for developing HPV—both the genital-wart-causing strains and the cervical-cancer-causing strains—are the same. How Cervical Cancer Is Diagnosed HPV Infections Many people are infected with HPV infections, but most of the time, even with the cancer-causing strains, the virus is eliminated from the body before any symptoms occur. If you are infected with one of these viruses, you may not have any symptoms, may develop genital warts, or may have an abnormal pap smear suggestive of dysplasia or precancerous changes of the cervix. Risk Factors HPV can be contracted by anyone who is sexually active. There are several factors that increase the risk of developing genital warts: Unprotected vaginal sexAnal sexOral sexGenital-to-genital contactChildbirthPrevious sexually transmitted diseasesMultiple sexual partners In addition, while smoking does not increase the risk of contracting HPV, it may delay the body's ability to clear the virus. While certain cases of HPV may resolve on their own, certain types of HPV can lead to the development of cervical, penile, and anal cancers, among others. In these cases, the virus does not directly cause the cancers, but rather leads to inflammation that can, in turn, lead to cancer. Other factors, such as smoking, which slow the clearance of the virus from the body, may contribute to the development of cancer. Diagnosis Regular testing for HPV is recommended in order to screen for cervical cancer and other complications of HPV. There is no standard test to diagnosis HPV. It is important that women undergo regular pap screenings to detect abnormalities that may indicate an HPV infection. If there is an abnormality, a DNA test, which can test for high-risk strains of HPV, can be conducted. If warts or lesions appear in the genital area, you should seek medical attention and testing for HPV. It's important to note, however, that the HPV tests that you may have taken do not test for the genital-wart-causing strains of the virus. Verywell / Alexandra Gordon Treatment There is no cure for HPV. Treatment is available for symptoms, such as genital warts, cervical cancer, and cervical changes. However, treatment will depend on the diagnosis and the severity of the infection. Common treatments include: MedicationCryotherapy (freezing)Electrocautery (burning)Injection of interferon into the wartsLaser treatmentSurgery to remove the warts There are both over-the-counter (OTC) medications and medications which are applied by a physician that are available. Self-treatments include Podofilox, Imiquimod, and Sinecatechins. Physician-applied treatments include podophyllin, trichloroacetic acid, and bichloroacetic acid. These treatments are usually applied once a week by a physician. Treatment will remove the warts but not the infection. Even if treated, you may still be able to transmit the infection to your partner. Prevention Avoiding risk factors, such as multiple sexual partners, can reduce your risk of contracting HPV and thus genital warts. Condoms may lessen your risk but do not always prevent the spread of HPV, as only skin-to-skin contact alone is needed. If you are between the ages of nine and 26, immunization may help prevent infection. Immunization Immunization is available which may protect you against contracting the HPV virus. There are now three different types of shots available, but only two of these are designed to protect against the genital wart and cervical cancer-causing strains of the virus. Immunizations currently available and the HPV strains which they are designed to prevent include: Gardasil (approved in 2006) protects against HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18Cervarix (approved in 2009) protects against HPV 16 and 18Gardasil 9 (approved 2014) protects against HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 A Word From Verywell Genital warts, caused by certain strains of HPV, are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. There are many misconceptions surrounding the development of both genital warts and HPV. It is important to remember that not all strains of HPV cause genital warts and the strains that do cause genital warts do not cause cervical cancer. However, the risk factors for all strains of HPV remain the same, including unprotected sex. If you are experiencing any symptoms of genital warts, seek medical attention to rule out other conditions and learn about which medication could help treat your symptoms. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital HPV Infection - Fact Sheet. Updated August 20, 2019. Yanofsky VR, Patel RV, Goldenberg G. Genital warts: a comprehensive review. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(6):25-36. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Basic Information about HPV and Cancer. Updated August 22, 2018.