What to do if you get genital warts

Concerned you might have a sexually transmitted infection? Dr Roger Henderson looks at the symptoms, causes and treatments for genital warts.

Genital warts symptoms, causes and treatments
Getty Images

If you discover little fleshy bumps on your penis or vagina which are similar to skin tags, it's possible you might have genital warts.

Genital warts is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on through sexual activity. There is no cure for genital warts but they are easily treatable. GP Dr Roger Henderson looks at the symptoms, causes and treatments for genital warts:

What are genital warts?

Genital warts are little 'bumps' of fleshy tissue which appear on the sex organs, and also quite often round the anus. They are acquired through sexual contact, which can include using sex toys, and may cause few symptoms, but can be uncomfortable and bleed or itch.

Warts are caused by various strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is transmitted by sexual activity with an infected person. There are at least 100 types of this virus, but most genital warts are caused by the types 6 and 11. (The warts we can commonly get on our hands are caused by a different type of HPV).

Warts can vary in colour, from pink to brown – depending largely on the shade of your skin.



What are the symptoms of genital warts?

Genital warts do not normally appear until at least two to four weeks after infection, and sometimes months pass before the warts become visible. Not everyone with the virus will develop genital warts, all of which can make it difficult to work out who you got them from.

In men, the warts usually develop on the penis skin, and in women on the vulva just outside the vagina. In both men and women they can occur around the back passage.

Genital warts do not usually hurt, but they can sometimes be itchy and may occasionally bleed. They have a varied appearance, from completely flat warts to rough cauliflower-like projections. They can appear on their own or in groups.

Who is at risk of catching genital warts?

Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and the number of cases in the UK has steadily increased over the last 20 years, with high-risk groups being women aged 16 to 19 and men aged 20 to 24.

Most people are at some small risk. But the danger is greatest for people with multiple sexual partners and people who do not practise safe sex, but anyone who has sex can get genital warts.



Can you prevent genital warts?

Always use a condom – it will partially protect you against genital warts.

If you are in doubt as to whether you have warts, speak to your GP or get a check-up at your local sexual health clinic.

A sudden and massive eruption of genital warts could suggest a defect in the immune system, possibly caused by HIV – anyone affected in this way should speak with their doctor as soon as possible.

Genital warts vaccination

Since 2012, the HPV vaccine offered to girls in the UK to protect against cervical cancer also protects against genital warts.

It covers the most common types of HPV (6,11,16 and 18) and by vaccinating teenage girls with this it is hoped that the number of cases of anogenital warts will steadily decrease.

From April 2018, the HPV vaccine has also been offered to men who have sex with men, trans men and trans women who are eligible.



How is a diagnosis of genital warts made?

A diagnosis is made by clinical examination and a doctor or nurse can usually diagnose warts just by looking at them. To detect poorly visible genital warts the doctor will swab the area with acetic acid. This does not hurt. The genital warts will then show up as white patches.

How are genital warts treated?

People are sometimes tempted to try and treat themselves, so they do things like cutting the warts off. We do not recommend this! Treatment for genital warts needs to be prescribed by a doctor. There are a number of ways a doctor can treat genital warts including chemical and physical methods.

There is no cure for genital warts because they are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV) which can stay in your skin, but it's possible for your body to clear the virus over time and many people never have another outbreak after the first instance.



Chemical methods to treat genital warts

Chemical methods are often referred to as 'topical treatment'. In this case, the word 'topical' means 'on the surface' and are used to burn off or destroy warts. Various applications can be used such as:

• Podophyllotoxin paint or cream

This is applied to the warts twice daily for three days. After that, the doctor may recommend weekly application for four or five weeks.

• Imiquimod cream

Usually, this cream is applied in a thin layer, three times a week for up to four months. About six hours after each application, wash the cream off.

If there is no success with these then other treatments such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can be tried which is good for treating small, hard warts. Because it can easily damage the skin, it must only be applied by the doctor or nurse at the clinic, usually once a week. Do not attempt to apply it yourself.



Physical methods to treat genital warts

Physical methods should only be carried out by a doctor who is experienced in the removal of warts, such as a health professional at a sexual health clinic. Possible treatments here include the following:

• Excision

This involves cutting the warts off under a local anaesthetic.

• Cryotherapy

This means freezing the warts off with liquid nitrogen that is sprayed onto them.

• Electrocautery

Using a hot probe to burn away the wart.

• Laser surgery

This can also sometimes be considered to remove warts that are difficult to access because they are deep inside the rectum, vagina or urethra.

Although there is always a chance that the warts will return after treatment (about a 1 in 4 risk), there is often only one outbreak and you may never be troubled by them again.

If you are a woman, it's a good idea to make sure you have regular cervical screening. HPV infection in general usually clears itself up within around two years of catching it, with no treatment being required.



Do genital warts give you cancer?

Genital warts are not cancerous and do not cause cancer. However, it is now known that most cases of cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb) are caused by HPV infection, so it is very important that any woman with anogenital warts attends regular cervical screening.

There is also some evidence that the risk of some cancers such as genital cancer and cancer of the mouth and throat is increased by the presence of HPV infection. However, the HPV types 6 and 11 that cause most (90 per cent) cases of anogenital warts do not appear to increase cancer risk although a number of different types of HPV infection may be present at the same time.



Where do I find a sexual health clinic?

For information on where to get tested, try one of the following:



    Dr Roger Henderson is a Senior GP, national medical columnist and UK medical director for LIVA Healthcare He appears regularly on television and radio and has written multiple books.
    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
    More From Sexual health