Genital Warts
Genital Warts are the result of a viral infection. Warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital, anal and throat area.
How is it passed on?
Genital Warts are caused by an infection called HPV. You can get infected with genital HPV through skin to skin contact, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus.
The virus will not pass through a condom but as condoms do not cover all of the genital area it is possible to infect genital skin that is not covered by the condom.
Warts can spread from the genital area to the area around the anus without having anal sex.
You cannot get Genital Warts from sharing baths or towels, from swimming pools, toilet seats or from sharing cups, plates or cutlery.
Symptoms
Most people with HPV infection will not develop visible Warts and the virus will go away on its own.
This means you may not know whether you or your partner have the virus.
If Warts do appear, this can happen from three weeks to months or years after coming into contact with the virus.
You might notice small, fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes which may appear anywhere in or on the genital, anal or throat area. They might be inside the vagina or anus, so may not be immediately visible.
Genital Warts are usually painless but may occasionally itch and cause some inflammation, or bleeding from the anus or the urethra (the tube that carries urine).
Long term effects
It is rare for Genital Warts to cause any long term health problems.
Treatment
You will only be offered treatment if you have visible Warts. The aim of treatment is to remove visible Warts. Treatment may include creams or liquids for home use or freezing of the Warts.
Wart treatments sold at the pharmacy are not suitable for use in the genital area.
Telling your partner
If you have visible Genital Warts then it is a good idea to talk to your current partner about the infection and avoid any skin to skin contact with the infected area, until you have completed treatment.
How to avoid Genital Warts
Condoms can help prevent the spread of Genital Warts, but do not prevent infection from contact with other parts of the anus or genitals that are not covered by the condom.
Avoid sharing sex toys. If you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
Where to get tested
There is no routine test for Genital Warts. If you can see lumps that you think may be Warts, then you can have this diagnosis confirmed at a sexual health clinic or by your GP. A health professional will examine the lumps and tell you whether they are Warts and whether treatment is necessary.