Genital warts

Genital warts | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Sexual and reproductive Genital warts Genital warts Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI). They are caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Symptoms of genital warts It can take a few weeks or months for genital warts to appear after becoming infected. Genital warts are usually small, rough lumps on the skin. They can appear: around the vagina and on the penis around the anus on the skin between the genitals and the anus Genital warts may: appear on their own or in a group (groups of warts can look like a cauliflower) feel soft or firm be white, red, skin-coloured, or darker than the surrounding skin They dont usually cause symptoms but can sometimes be painful, itchy or bleed. When to get medical advice Speak to your GP practice or local sexual health clinic if you have: 1 or more painless lumps or growths around your vagina, penis or anus itching or bleeding from your genitals or anus a sexual partner (s) who has genital warts Testing for genital warts The test for genital warts involves an examination of the genital area. If you think you might have genital warts, get checked for free by: contacting your GP practice for an appointment booking an appointment at your local sexual health service Warts must be diagnosed by a doctor or nurse. Treatment for genital warts Treatment for genital warts is not always needed. They sometimes disappear on their own within 6 months. If treatment is recommended, itll be prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor or nurse may advise you to avoid sex while youre having treatment for genital warts. The type of treatment youll be offered depends on what your warts are like. Your 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 or burn 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 Genital warts and pregnancy Genital warts are not usually harmful during pregnancy. During pregnancy, genital warts may: multiply and get bigger (they may be removed if theyre very big) become more easily irritated be passed on to the baby during childbirth, but this is very rare (the HPV virus can cause infection in the babys throat or genitals) Most creams, liquids and ointments used to treat genital warts are not recommended during pregnancy. Freezing can be used but its often not very successful. Genital warts usually disappear on their own within 6 weeks after childbirth. How genital warts are passed on You can get genital warts from skin to skin contact. Other ways of getting genital warts include: unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex (sex without a condom) sharing sex toys with an infected person How to prevent genital warts The best way to reduce your risk of STIs is to practice safer sex . This means using a condom for vaginal, anal, and oral sex, and when sharing sex toys. 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. However, it doesnt treat warts once you have them. HPV and cancer Genital warts are not cancer and dont cause cancer. Theyre caused by a different strain of HPV. HPV vaccination is offered to every person aged 11 to 13. The vaccine can 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 didnt have the vaccine at school and dont fulfill the above criteria, you can pay for the vaccine privately. Other STIs If youve been diagnosed with genital warts its recommended that youre tested for all STIs including: chlamydia gonorrhoea syphilis HIV Source: Scottish Government - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 06 March 2024 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. Email Address e.g. you@example.com Message Maximum of 500 characters Send feedback Add this page to\n            Info For Me Find your local sexual health clinic Enter a place or postcode NHS inform About NHS inform Editorial policy Contact us Webchat Give feedback about NHS inform Info for Me tool Terms and conditions Privacy and cookies policy Freedom of information (FOI) Accessibility Other languages and formats  2023 NHS 24  v1.1.1.17852