Genital warts, sometimes called condyloma acuminata or
venereal warts, are a type of sexually transmitted disease (STD). They are caused by human papillomavirus, or
HPV. While there are more than 100 different
types of HPV, only a couple cause genital warts
(see Causes of Genital Warts).
Genital warts are extremely common and increasing rapidly. They are now even more common than
genital herpes, another sexually transmitted disease.
The warts are soft, moist, or flesh-colored and appear in the genital area within weeks or months after infection. They sometimes appear in clusters that resemble cauliflower-like bumps and can be raised or flat, small or large.
Genital warts can show up in women on the vulva and cervix, and inside and surrounding the vagina and anus. In men, they can appear on the scrotum or penis. There have also been cases where warts were found on the thigh and groin. They spread rapidly over moist areas.
Your healthcare provider usually diagnoses genital warts by seeing them. If you are a woman with genital warts, you also should be examined for possible
HPV infection of the cervix.
Your healthcare provider may be able to identify some otherwise invisible warts in your genital tissue by applying vinegar (acetic acid) to areas of your body that might be infected. This solution causes infected areas to whiten, which makes them more visible. In some cases, a healthcare provider will take a small piece of tissue from the cervix and examine it under the microscope.
If you have an abnormal Pap smear result, it may indicate the presence of cervical HPV infection. A laboratory worker will examine cells scraped from your cervix under a microscope to see if they are cancerous.
Treatments for Genital Warts
While HPV (the virus that causes genital warts) has no known cure
(see Cure for Genital Warts), treatments are available. These include prescription medications and certain medical procedures. Your healthcare provider will consider your wishes and the size, location, and number of warts before recommending treatment.
Even without treatment, however, they often disappear on their own. There is no way to predict whether the warts will grow or disappear.
There are no over-the-counter treatments for genital warts. If you decide to have them removed, do not use over-the counter medicines meant for other kinds of warts.
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