Genital warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital or anal area. Genital warts are the result of a viral skin infection that is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Genital warts are usually painless and do not pose a serious threat to a person’s health. However, they can appear unsightly and cause psychological distress.
The human papillomavirus (HPV)
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is not a single virus, but a family of over 100 different strains of viruses. Of these, 40 strains of HPV are known to cause genital warts.
Other strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer. See the Health A-Z topic about Cervical cancer for more information about this condition.
Genital warts can be spread during vaginal or anal sex, and by sharing sex toys. However, you do not need to have penetrative sex to pass the infection on because HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Condoms do not provide complete protection because it is possible for the skin around your genital area (that is not covered by the condom) to become infected.
HPV is most likely to be transmitted to others when warts are present, although it is still possible to pass the virus on before the warts have developed and after they have disappeared.
The incubation period for genital warts (the time that it takes for symptoms to develop after developing an infection) can be as long as one year. Therefore, if you are in a relationship and you get genital warts, it does not necessarily mean that your partner has been having sex with other people.
How common are genital warts?
Genital warts are very common. In England, they are the leading type of sexually transmitted infection (STI), accounting for 1 in 5 cases. Each year in England, on average, 80,000 new cases of genital warts are diagnosed by GUM (genito-urinary medicine) clinics.
Genital warts are most common in sexually active teenagers and young adults. Men aged between 20 and 24 and women aged between 16 and 19, have the highest rates of genital warts.
Since the 1970s, rates of genital warts in women have risen sharply. For example, there were an estimated 12,000 cases of genital warts diagnosed in 1972 in the UK. This figure rose to 83,700 cases diagnosed in 2006. This is probably due to a corresponding increase in sexual activity in young women.
The more sexual partners you have, the greater your risk of getting genital warts. However, not everyone who gets genital warts is necessarily promiscuous (having a lot of different sexual partners), as it is possible to get them even if you have only had one sexual partner.
Outlook
The outlook for genital warts is good. Several treatments are available, such as creams and cryotherapy (freezing the warts) and they have a good rate of success. However, many treatments can take up to three months before they are fully effective.
