Patient education: Anogenital warts (The Basics)

What are anogenital warts? — Anogenital warts are small growths that form on the vulva (the lips of the vagina), vagina, penis, anus, or skin near these areas. They can be skin-colored, pink, or brown in color.

Anogenital warts are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or "HPV." You can catch this virus during sex. Anogenital warts are often called just "genital warts."

Is HPV dangerous? — The type of HPV that causes most forms of genital warts is not usually dangerous. But other types of HPV can lead to cancer of the cervix (the bottom part of the uterus that leads to the vagina), penis, or anus.

Do genital warts hurt or itch? — Not usually. Most people with genital warts have no symptoms (other than the warts). But some people have itching, burning, or tenderness.

Is there a test for genital warts? — Your doctor or nurse can usually see if you have warts just by doing an exam. They might also take small samples of tissue (called a "biopsy") if it is not clear. But this is not usually necessary.

How are genital warts treated? — There are several treatments that can help get rid of the warts. Your doctor or nurse can help you to choose the best treatment for you.

Some medicines work by slowly destroying the warts. Others work by getting your body's own infection-fighting system to attack the warts.

Most medicines are lotions or gels that are put on the warts. They have to be applied 1 or more times a week for many weeks. Some medicines must be applied by a doctor or nurse. Others you can apply yourself.

There are different treatments to remove warts:

●Cryotherapy – This uses a chemical to freeze the warts.

●Electrocautery – This uses electricity to burn the warts off.

●Traditional surgery – This involves cutting the warts off.

●Laser surgery – This uses light to destroy the warts.

●Ultrasound surgery – This uses sound waves to break up and remove the warts (this is not available in many places).

What if I am pregnant? — If you are pregnant, tell your doctor before you get treated for genital warts. Some of the treatments for genital warts are safe to use during pregnancy, but others are not.

What happens after treatment? — Your doctor or nurse might ask you to check once in a while to see if they come back.

Even if you cannot see any warts, you might still have HPV. This means that warts can come back at any time. If warts do come back, you could spread them to someone else.

Can genital warts be prevented? — Yes. You can get vaccines against HPV. They can help prevent infection with most of the forms of HPV that cause warts. But the vaccines can prevent infection only if you get vaccinated before you get warts.

You can also protect yourself by not having sex with anyone who is infected with HPV. But that can be hard, because people do not always know that they have the virus. Condoms can help reduce the risk of infection. But they do not totally protect you. The virus can live on places on the skin not covered by a condom.

More on this topic

Patient education: Chlamydia and gonorrhea (The Basics)
Patient education: Genital herpes (The Basics)
Patient education: Sexually transmitted infections (The Basics)
Patient education: HIV/AIDS (The Basics)
Patient education: Trichomoniasis (The Basics)
Patient education: Human papillomavirus (HPV) (The Basics)

Patient education: Genital warts in women (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Chlamydia (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Gonorrhea (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Genital herpes (Beyond the Basics)