If you think you may have genital warts, visit your local genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic (sexual health clinic).
While your GP will be able to diagnose genital warts, staff at the GUM clinic will have both the access and training required to administer various treatments for genital warts. You can find your local GUM clinic in find services: sexual health.
Who should go for a check-up?
You should have a check-up if you have obvious signs and symptoms of genital warts, if a recent or current sexual partner develops genital warts or another type of sexually transmitted infection (STI).
You may also wish to have a check-up if:
- you have recently had unprotected sex with a new partner
- you or your partner have had unprotected sex with other partners
- you have another sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- you are pregnant, or planning a pregnancy
All check-ups are free and confidential.
Diagnosing genital warts
Genital warts can usually be easily diagnosed by examining them. At a check-up, the doctor or nurse will examine the warts. They may use a magnifying lens to do this.
Women will also have the inside of their vagina examined using a speculum, which is a specially designed instrument that incorporates a torch and a mirror.
Further testing
Further testing is usually only required if it is thought there is a higher than average chance that genital warts have developed inside your anus (back passage) or urethra (the tube connected to the bladder, through which urine passes).
Further testing may be recommended if:
- you have recently had anal sex and were the passive partner
- you have warts around your anus
- you have experienced bleeding from your anus or urethra
- your normal urine flow has become distorted
The inside of the anus can be examined with a special metal instrument called a proctoscope. A proctoscope is a small metal tube that incorporates a torch and a magnifying lens.
A similar tool called an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera at one end) may be used to examine the inside of your urethra.
