What is human papillomavirus?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of STDs in the world. Scientists have identified more than 100 types of HPV, most of which are harmless. About 30 types are spread through sexual contact. Some types of HPV cause genital warts and some can cause cervical cancer and other genital cancers.
What are genital warts?
Genital warts are the visible sign of a type of HPV infection. Many people can have a genital HPV infection without genital warts.
What about warts on the hands and feet?
Other types of HPV cause common skin warts. These types of HPV do not cause genital warts.
How do you get genital warts?
Any person who is sexually active can get genital warts.
- Genital warts can be transmitted by direct skin to skin contact during vaginal and anal sex.
- Oral transmission of this virus is extremely rare.
- Warts on other parts of the body, such as the hand and feet, are caused by a different type of wart virus. These warts cannot be spread to the genital area.
- About 65% of regular partners to people with genital warts will also have genital warts.
What are the symptoms?
- Warts may appear within a few weeks to several months after contact with an infected partner.
- Some warts can cause irritation. They are occasionally itchy and may bleed.
- Sometimes warts can be very hard to see.
- It may be difficult to tell the difference between warts and normal bumps on the genital area. If someone thinks that have genital warts or have been exposed to genital warts, they should go to their doctor or a clinic for an exam. A doctor or a nurse will check more closely and may use a magnifying lens to find smaller warts.
- A woman may find out she is infected with another type of HPV when she has her routine Pap test (a test for cervical cancer).
What do they look like?
Genital warts appear as growths or bumps. The warts vary in size, shape and number. They tend to be flesh coloured or whitish. They can have a cauliflower-like appearance as they grow larger.
For Males:
- Genital warts occur most often on the head and shaft of the penis or in the anal area.
- Sometimes they can affect the scrotum.
For Women:
- They usually appear on the external genitals and anal area.
- They may also be found internally on the vaginal walls and cervix.
What is the treatment?
- Untreated warts may resolve on their own, remain unchanged, or increase in size and number.
- Once diagnosed by a health care provider, treatments for visible warts are either practitioner (doctor or nurse) administered or patient applied.
Practitioner applied: (Note: all treatments can cause inflammatory responses)
- Cryotherapy (freezing) with liquid nitrogen
- Podophyllin (a liquid applied directly to the skin)
- Trichloracetic acid
At -home prescriptions, patient applied:
- Imiquimod cream
- Podofilox cream or gel
If warts do not respond to these treatments the patient can be referred to a dermatologist that specializes in the treatment of genital warts. Other treatments options used by specialists include laser therapy and electrocautery.
* Over the counter wart treatments should not be used for genital warts
Links
- NIAID - component of the National Institutes of Health, a US government agency. Supports research to prevent, diagnose and treat STDs.
- Planned Parenthood - Information on all STDs. Includes question and answer section.
- Health Canada Online - Information on all STDs from Health Canada's Laboratory Centre for Disease Control.
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