Genital warts
Genital warts
Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). They're caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
If you see the following, talk to your GP practice or local sexual health clinic:
- 1 or more painless lumps or growths around your vagina, penis or anus
- itching or bleeding from your genitals or anus
- a sexual partner who has genital warts
Testing for genital warts
Testing means having the genital area examined.
If you think you might have genital warts, you can get checked for free by:
- contacting your GP practice for an appointment
- booking an appointment at your local sexual health service
A doctor or nurse must be the one to diagnose warts.
Treatment
Treatment for genital warts
Treatment for genital warts is not always needed. They sometimes disappear on their own within 6 months.
If treatment is recommended, it’ll be prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor or nurse may advise you to avoid sex while you’re having treatment for genital warts.
The type of treatment you’ll be offered depends on what your warts are like. Your doctor or nurse will discuss this with you.
Treatment options include:
- cream or liquid
- freezing
- surgery
Cream or liquid
You can usually apply this to the warts yourself a few times a week for several weeks.
Freezing
A doctor or nurse freezes the warts with liquid nitrogen, usually every week for 4 weeks.
Surgery
A doctor or nurse can cut or burn the warts off. This is usually only recommended if the warts are not responding or are too large for cream or freezing. Side effects of these treatments include:
- bleeding
- wound infection
- scarring
Genital warts and pregnancy
Genital warts are not usually harmful during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, genital warts may:
- multiply and get bigger (they may be removed if they’re very big)
- become more easily irritated
- be passed on to the baby during childbirth, but this is very rare (the HPV virus can cause infection in the baby’s throat or genitals)
Most creams, liquids and ointments used to treat genital warts are not recommended during pregnancy. Freezing can be used but it’s often not very successful.
Genital warts usually disappear on their own within 6 weeks after childbirth.
How genital warts are passed on
You can get genital warts from skin to skin contact.
Other ways of getting genital warts include:
- unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (sex without a condom)
- sharing sex toys with an infected person
Prevention
The best way to lower your risk of STIs is to practice safer sex. This means using a condom for vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and when sharing sex toys.
You can still get warts even if you use condoms, since a condom does not cover the whole genital area.
The HPV vaccine lowers your risk of getting the HPV virus that causes warts, but it does not treat warts you already have.
HPV and cancer
Genital warts are not cancer and do not cause cancer. They are caused by a different strain of HPV.
The HPV vaccine is offered to everyone aged 11 to 13. The same vaccine that protects against cervical cancer also protects against genital warts.
It is also offered to men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans people up to age 45.
If you missed the vaccine at school and do not meet these criteria, you can still pay for it privately.
Other STIs
If you have been diagnosed with genital warts, it is recommended that you get tested for all STIs, including:
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- syphilis
- HIV
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