They may be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, They might be clumped together forming a cauliflower-like shape. Occasionally they are virtually invisible to the naked eye. The HPV virus can also live on the surface of the skin without causing a wart. This is known as a 'subclinical' HPV infection. Warts on the hands, etc that contact pubic areas DO NOT spread the genital virus.
Warts appear from several weeks to several months after contact.
The long incubation period makes it difficult to know when and from whom you get the virus. It may be difficult to know that you have the warts if they are inside the vagina, on the cervix or in the anus. Rarely do they cause itching or bleeding. An abnormal pap smear might be the first warning that genital warts are present. Fortunately, warts might go away on their own, but it might take years and years.