Genital warts | NHS inform

Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

This virus is passed on through direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who has HPV on their skin. It can be passed from person to person during vaginal and anal sex. It’s also rarely passed on through oral sex.

How do you get genital warts?

You get genital warts by touching your genitals with someone else’s genitals who carries the HPV virus. The virus may be present on the skin but no actual warts can be seen.

You can get warts even if you use condoms or don’t have penetrative sex, as a condom does not cover all of the genital skin.

Symptoms of genital warts

If you have genital warts, you may notice lumps or growths around your vagina, penis or anus that were not there before. However, you can carry the virus without developing actual warts.

You may develop symptoms years after you have been in contact with the virus so it isn’t possible to know when you came in contact with HPV.

It’s common for warts to appear or re-appear during pregnancy due to a change in how the immune system manages the virus.

Testing for genital warts

A healthy immune system is usually able to clear the virus, or suppress it, over time. This means that eventually the warts would be cured.

If you think you may have genital warts you should make an appointment with your GP or contact your local sexual health services.

It’s important that warts are diagnosed by a doctor or nurse.

Online appointment booking

You may be able to book an appointment for an STI test online using the online booking system. This varies for different NHS board areas.

Treating genital warts

Treatment for genital warts needs to be prescribed by a doctor or nurse.

The type of treatment you’ll be offered depends on what your warts are like. The 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, burn or laser 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

Recurring genital warts

Warts can come back after you have managed to get rid of them. This may happen weeks, months or years after they first appeared.

You can try and prevent this by keeping yourself and your immune system as healthy as possible by eating well and exercising.

Smoking reduces your chances of clearing the virus, so it is advised you stop smoking.

In some people the treatment doesn’t work. There’s no cure for genital warts but it’s possible for your body to clear the virus over time.

Avoiding passing on genital warts to a partner

Using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex is the best way to avoid passing on genital warts to a partner. However, if the virus is present on skin not protected by a condom, it can still be passed on.

Your doctor or nurse may advise you to avoid sex while you’re having treatment for genital warts.

Reducing the risk of genital warts

To reduce your risk of getting genital warts you should use a condom for vaginal, anal and oral sex.

You can get warts even if you use condoms, as a condom does not cover the whole genital area.

The HPV vaccination will reduce your risk of getting HPV virus which causes warts.

HPV and cancer

Genital warts are not cancer and don’t cause cancer. They’re caused by a different strain of HPV.

The HPV vaccine offered to girls and boys in the UK to protect against cervical cancer also protects against genital warts.

The HPV vaccine is also offered to men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans people aged up to 45 years.

If you didn’t have the vaccine at school and don’t fulfil the above eligibility criteria, you can purchase the vaccine privately.

Speak to your GP or local sexual health clinic for further information.

Other STIs

If you’ve been diagnosed with genital warts it’s recommended that you’re tested for all STIs including:

• chlamydia
• gonorrhoea
• syphilis
• HIV

Genital Warts (HPV) (for Teens)

What Are Genital Warts?

Genital warts are warts that are on or near the vagina or penis (the genitals).

What Causes Genital Warts?

Genital warts are usually a sexually transmitted disease (STD). They’re caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). This 
virusalso can cause some types of cancer. But the types of HPV that cause genital warts do not usually cause cancer.

What Are STDs?

STDs (also called sexually transmitted infections or STIs) are infections that spread through sex (vaginal, oral, or anal), or close sexual contact.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Genital Warts?

Many people infected with HPV never get warts. If warts do develop, they usually come within a few months. But sometimes, they show up years later.

The warts can be on or near the vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, or anus.

Genital warts can be raised or flat, small or large. Sometimes they’re grouped together in a cauliflower-like shape. Some warts can be so small and flat that they’re not noticed right away.

Most of the time, genital warts are painless. Some people may have itching, bleeding, burning, or pain.

How Do People Get Genital Warts?

The HPV that causes genital warts usually spreads through vaginal, oral, or anal sex or close sexual contact with the genital area. Even if there are no warts, HPV might still be active in the genital area and can spread to others.

It is not always possible for people to know when they got infected with HPV. This is because:

• The virus can be in the body for months to years before warts develop.
• They might have had warts before that weren’t noticed.

How Are Genital Warts Diagnosed?

Health care providers usually can diagnose genital warts by looking at them. Sometimes, doctors take a small sample of the wart to send to a lab for testing. This usually isn’t painful.

How Are Genital Warts Treated?

Treatments to remove genital warts include:

• medicines put on or into the warts
• lasers, cold, or heat put on the warts
• surgery

Sometimes, warts come back after treatment. This is because the treatments can’t get rid of all of the HPV in the body.

How Long Do Genital Warts Last?

How long genital warts last can vary from person to person. Sometimes, the immune system clears the warts within a few months. But even if the warts go away, the HPV might still be active in the body. So the warts can come back. Usually within 2 years, the warts and the HPV are gone from the body.

When Is Someone With Genital Warts No Longer Contagious?

People with genital warts definitely can spread HPV. But even after the warts are gone, HPV might still be active in the body. That means it can spread to someone else through sex or close sexual contact and cause warts in that person. It’s hard to know when people are no longer contagious, because there’s no blood test that looks for HPV.

Most of the time, HPV is gone within 2 years of when someone was infected.

Can Genital Warts Be Prevented?

Genital warts and other types of HPV can be prevented by a vaccine. The HPV vaccine series is recommended for all kids when they’re 9–11 years old. Teens and adults (up to age 45) also can get the vaccine. Even if someone already has had one type of HPV infection, the HPV vaccine can protect against other types of HPV.

HPV almost always spreads through sex. So another way to prevent genital warts is to not have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). If someone does decide to have sex, using a condom every time for sex (vaginal, oral, anal) helps prevent HPV and other STDs. But condoms can’t always prevent HPV because they don’t cover all areas where HPV can live.

Should Sexual Partners Be Told About Genital Warts?

Yes. Someone diagnosed with genital warts should have an honest conversation with sexual partners. Partners need to be seen by a health care provider who can check for genital warts and do screenings for other STDs.

If the couple plan to continue having sex, both people need to understand that a condom will help lower the risk of spreading genital warts/HPV but can’t completely prevent it.

Looking Ahead

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with genital warts, it is important to:

• Know that HPV can spread to partners during sex, even if there are no warts.
• Tell any sexual partners about the warts before having sex.
• Use a condom every time they have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal).
• Get tested for other STDs as recommended by your health care provider.
• Get all doses of the HPV vaccine.

Papillomas on the genitals – how to have sex with HPV?

Human papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. A certain percentage of people live with a virus that does not manifest itself in a latent state, not even knowing about its presence in the body. But in some cases, HPV causes inconvenience. For example, the manifestation of a virus in the form of warts or genital warts on the genitals is perceived as an aesthetic defect. But even this is not the true threat of the disease. At first glance, a safe papilloma on the genitals can be reborn and take on a malignant form. In this case, the diagnosis is cancer. Can these risks be prevented?

Important: The International Agency for Research on Cancer identifies 1.5 dozen strains of papillomavirus that lead to the development of cancer. The most dangerous (up to 90% of cancer cases) are the 16th and 18th types of the virus.

Specialists of the Lazersvit Mole Diagnostic Center talk about the causes of genital papillomas, about threats and effective methods of dealing with them. The leading specialized clinic in Kharkov offers services for the diagnosis and treatment of HPV on the genitals. You can make an appointment and consultation with a dermatologist by phone. In the meantime, doctors of a medical institution answer the most common questions related to genital HPV.

How does HPV show up on the genitals?

Genital papilloma may appear as a small bump, epidermal hair, or pedunculated ball. It can be a single growth or a group of formations in the intimate area, a flat wart or a large growth, similar in shape to a cauliflower. Their location unites them – neoplasms occur in the anorectal zone, in the perineum, on the scrotum and directly on the penis in men, on the labia and in the vagina in women.

Important: HPV strains that cause papillomas of the vagina, labia, scrotum and head of the penis rarely cause growths on the oral mucosa. These are papillomaviruses 6, 11, 16, 18, 33, 35 and some other types. Laboratory tests can determine the exact strain of the virus. Well, such a symptom as growths on the inside of the lips and cheeks should be the reason for going to the doctor.

Diagnosis and clinical manifestations

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out by visual examination and laboratory tests of blood, skin, and mucosal tissues. In general, a gynecologist, dermatologist, urologist, or other healthcare professional only needs to look at the genital area to suspect an infection. After all, as mentioned above, the human papillomavirus on the genitals is manifested by ugly growths.

Important: HPV enters the body through microtrauma of the skin and mucous membranes. He can “sleep” for several months and even years. In people with strong immunity, doctors often record self-healing. Well, with weak protective functions of the body or under the influence of adverse factors, the virus is activated. Genital papillomas appear in men and women.

Clinical manifestations of pathology is the chaotic division of epithelial cells. Many patients complain of discharge, itching. But the main symptom of the disease is warts that grow at the entrance or even inside the vagina in women, in the region of the labia minora, near or inside the anus, around the genitals in men.

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe a cytology of cervical tissue samples, PCR testing, smears for concomitant sexual infections.

Papillomas on the genitals: the causes of the development of pathology

The most common route of infection is direct contact, in which the skin and mucous membranes of the carrier of the virus and a healthy person come into contact. As a rule, this is sexual contact. Although there is a risk of infection of the child from the mother, the household method is through personal hygiene items. You can also get HPV in common areas – a pool, a shower.

Important: With each new sexual partner, the risk of infection for a healthy person increases by 20%. Unfortunately, standard protective equipment used during sexual intercourse does not protect against HPV, since latex products do not protect all parts of the genitals from contact.

The causes of infection are not as important as the methods of dealing with it. After all, the risk of direct or domestic infection is very high. The main thing is to start treatment on time to avoid complications. It is noteworthy that Western scientists understand the importance of the problem. Up to 6 billion dollars a year is allocated for HPV research and development of new treatment protocols in the USA alone. But a drug that will cure the virus once and for all has not been found. However, even today’s methods of combating pathology are quite effective if they are contacted in a specialized medical institution in a timely manner.

Why are papillomas on the genitals dangerous?

The disease must be treated. This is a strong recommendation, both from specialists of the World Health Organization and leading dermatologists and oncologists of Ukraine. In addition to the fact that papilloma on the labia or papilloma on the penis looks extremely unattractive, the disease, as mentioned above, is also dangerous.

Let’s start small. When wearing tight underwear, during hygiene procedures, during intimate caresses, the growth can be injured. And this is fraught with bleeding and the addition of a secondary infection.

Important: The intimate area becomes ugly. This can cause disgust on the part of the sexual partner. Without treatment of the pathology, the area where the growths are located can increase. Gradually, new areas of the skin are involved. The formations grow, after a while they can interfere with urination and defecation.

With an unfavorable outcome of HPV in the vagina, on the penis, it can take a malignant form. Condyloma, which was benign yesterday, can become an oncological tumor with metastasis to the pelvic organs tomorrow. That is why the problem should not be ignored.

Important: HPV aggressive species causes cancer of the cervix, small lips, vagina, penis and anus.

How to get rid of genital papillomas?

Despite the scale of research and understanding of the problem by the medical scientific community, it is not possible to develop specific drugs for the treatment of HPV, as already mentioned. Some countries offer vaccination against the virus at an early age. However, high positive results cannot be achieved by such a measure. After all, the vaccine works for a fairly short time, and the risk of infection is present throughout life.

Important: The HPV vaccine can only protect at a certain stage. For example, young people who have not reached puberty and who have not had sexual intercourse in the past are offered to use this type of protection against the virus. Indeed, it is in adolescence, in which the first sexual experience is acquired, that the greatest change of sexual partners is noted, weakened immunity is diagnosed, and infection most often occurs.

But if you failed to protect yourself from the virus, you can fight it. An integrated approach to treatment includes:

• measures to strengthen the immune system, because the body’s internal defenses can suppress the activity of the virus;
• taking antiviral drugs that chemically inhibit the spread of the virus;
• removal of papillomas on the genitals, in the oral cavity and on other parts of the body.

Important: When HPV is detected in one partner in a couple, treatment is carried out in two, because the risk that both are infected is more than 80%. An adequate gentle treatment program is developed for an individual patient or couple, taking into account the manifestations of the disease and the type of virus identified through laboratory tests.

There is a chance of self-healing, but it is quite low. And not in a couple where there will be constant relapses. At the same time, a well-chosen doctor’s treatment tactics allows you to get rid of the pathology quickly enough.

Important: It is strongly not recommended to remove papillomas at home, since the use of aggressive media based on vinegar, iodine is dangerous to health. Extensive tissue burns may form at the site of exposure. In this case, self-treatment will not bring the desired result. After all, the skin neoplasm must be removed completely “under the root”. Only in this case it will not grow again.

Do not try to treat warts at home or in a beauty salon. Such treatment does not give a complete picture of the state of human health. The type of virus is not determined, antiviral therapy is not carried out. So, the symptoms are only muffled, and the problem is aggravated.

Medical methods for the treatment of genital and other types of papillomas are:

• Radio wave method.
• Laser method.
• Use of liquid nitrogen.

The best of them today is the burning of neoplasms with a laser. Safe, bloodless and painless method has virtually no contraindications. One or two warts are removed in 5 minutes. Hospitalization of the patient is not required, as the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Immediately after the micro-operation, a person can return to his usual way of life.

The laser burns pathological tissues completely and without a trace. There are no scars or scars on the skin. Papilloma on the genitals or in the perineum is removed forever. It is enough to look at the photo of the skin before and after the procedure to be sure of this.

You can learn more about laser wart removal at the Lazersvit clinic at the appointment. You can sign up for a consultation right now at a convenient time for you.

How are genital papillomas removed in men?

Many men are embarrassed by warts on the penis and try to remove them at home with various aggressive media. This is a detrimental practice with a high risk of complications. A secondary infection may be added to the skin burn. In this case, the treatment will be long. At the same time, HPV of the penis is easy to get rid of if you contact a specialized medical institution.

Our clinic employs qualified dermatologists who clearly know how to treat the papilloma virus on the penis. Be sure that in a fairly short period of time there will be no trace of the pathology.

We use a laser method that allows you to act on the overgrown epidermal tissues. Neighboring tissues are not damaged. And since the capillaries are immediately cauterized, there is no bleeding.

How are genital papillomas removed in women?

Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the female genital organs, the removal of papillomas in women is somewhat more difficult. The papilloma virus on the genitals in women often spreads not only to the external genital organs, but also to the vagina, to the cervix. Therefore, the removal of warts after a thorough examination, tissue sampling, with an external manifestation, is carried out by a dermatologist, and with an internal manifestation, a gynecologist conducts. Any independent attempts to get rid of papillomas are unacceptable and dangerous.

Sex life with HPV

It is not recommended to have sex if papillomas have appeared on the genitals, because the formations are contagious, and infection occurs during sexual intercourse. A condom will not protect your partner from infection. The best option is to remove genital warts and only later return to sexual activity.

Human papillomavirus and head and neck cancer: what do you need to know?

This information will help you understand what human papillomavirus is and how it can cause head and neck cancer.

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What is human papillomavirus?

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a virus that can infect the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, genitals, and anal area. HPV infection is widespread. Most people with HPV don’t develop any symptoms and their immune system gets rid of the virus without any treatment. In some cases, HPV can lead to cancer. We don’t know why some people get rid of HPV before it causes cancer and others don’t.

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Are there different types of HPV?

Yes, there are different types of HPV. Some types of this virus cause warts to grow on the skin, in the mouth, or on the genitals. Other types can lead to cancer. They are called high risk types. High-risk HPV can cause a variety of cancers, including cancer of the cervix and vulva in women, the penis in men, and the anus. The most common type is cervical cancer. That’s why women get a cervical smear (also called a Pap test to check for cervical cancer), which includes a test for HPV.

High-risk HPV can also cause head and neck cancer in men and women.

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How do people get HPV?

HPV can enter your body when your skin or mucous membranes come into contact with the skin or mucous membranes of an infected person. This usually happens during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with a person who has the virus. Because HPV is so widespread, it is difficult to know when the infection entered the body and who transmitted it. Moreover, the first symptoms of HPV may appear several years after having sex with an infected person. For this reason, it is difficult to find out when you were first infected.

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Am I contagious?

HPV is not transmitted by physical contact (such as touching and kissing on the cheek or lips), but you can get HPV through vaginal, anal, and oral sex. This means that if you have HPV, then your sexual partners may also have the virus. Because most people get rid of the infection on their own, it’s very unlikely that your partner will get cancer caused by HPV, even with a high-risk type. If you are diagnosed with HPV-related cancer, you do not need to change your sexual behavior in any way.

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Can HPV be cured?

There is currently no cure for HPV. Most people infected with HPV get rid of the virus without any treatment.

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Should my partner be tested for HPV?

• Women should follow the usual women’s health advice, which includes regular cervical smears.
• Men do not need to undergo any special examinations or tests, as there are no regular or standard HPV tests for them.

Your partner is very unlikely to develop cancer caused by HPV. If you have symptoms or concerns, your partner should discuss this with their doctor.

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What can I do to avoid contracting HPV and passing it on to another person?

Condoms and rubber dams (a thin, rectangular sheet of latex or silicone that covers the genitals of a woman who has oral sex) are not as effective against HPV as they are against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but their use can reduce the chance of transmission of HPV. Always use condoms or rubber dams during vaginal, anal or oral sex.

You should also get vaccinated against HPV and encourage your partner to do the same.

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Should I be vaccinated against HPV?

Anyone between the ages of 9 and 26 can get the HPV vaccine to protect against genital warts and different types of HPV that can cause cancer. Children are recommended to be vaccinated at 11–12 years of age so that they are protected several years before they become sexually active.

Usually this vaccine is not given to people over 26 years of age. However, regardless of your age, talk to your doctor to see if the HPV vaccine might benefit you.

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If I am already infected with HPV, can I be cured with the vaccine?

If you already have HPV, getting vaccinated won’t help you get better, but it can protect you from other types of HPV.

If you have HPV, talk to your doctor or nurse to find out what tests or treatment you need.

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How does HPV cause head and neck cancers?

We don’t know for sure how HPV causes head and neck cancers. Most people with high-risk HPV will not have cancer. However, some people fail to get rid of HPV. In this case, the virus is able to cause damage that will eventually lead to the development of a tumor. It often takes years for HPV-infected cells to turn into cancerous cells. It is impossible to predict who will clear the infection and who will develop cancer. Most head and neck cancers caused by HPV form in the part of the throat where the root of the tongue and tonsils are located.

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How can I find out if HPV is causing my cancer?

During the diagnosis of head and neck cancer, the tumor can be checked for HPV. This is currently the only way to know if HPV is causing cancer.

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Can I get another type of cancer because of HPV?

The risk of developing a second type of cancer due to HPV is low, but your doctor will continue to check you regularly. Be sure to tell your doctor about any new symptoms or concerns.

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Does having HPV affect my treatment or my chances of being cured?

People whose head and neck cancer is caused by HPV respond better to treatment than people whose HPV does not cause head and neck cancers. However, both types of cancer are treated in the same way. Treatment decisions are made based on the size and location of the tumor, the stage of the disease, and the person’s overall health. Scientists are currently investigating whether changes should be made to cancer treatment if it is associated with HPV.

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What about tobacco and alcohol?

People who smoke and drink alcohol are more likely to develop head and neck cancer. However, cancers caused by HPV can develop whether you drink alcohol or use tobacco-containing products. People with cancer, non-smokers and non-drinkers live longer and are less likely to develop new cancers. For this reason, people with head and neck cancer should stop smoking and limit their alcohol intake. If you need help breaking these habits, MSK can help you. Ask your doctor or nurse for more information about our programs, or call the Counseling Center at 646-888-0200.

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Resources

There is a lot of information on the Internet about HPV and cancer, but sometimes it is contradictory and unreliable.