01/07/2025
Ge***al Warts
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Testing
Treatment
Home remedies
Risk factors
Complications
Prevention
Outlook
Ge***al warts can develop with a low risk HPV infection. Treatment can include topical prescription treatments and medical procedures to remove warts.
Ge***al warts are soft growths that appear on the ge****ls. They can cause pain, discomfort, and itching.
They are a s*xually transmitted infection (STI) caused by low risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). These strains, HPV 6 and HPV 11, are different from the high risk strains that can lead to cervical dysplasia and cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, HPV is the most common of all STIs. Everyone who is s*xually active is vulnerable to complications of HPV, including ge***al warts.
HPV infection is especially dangerous for people with v***as because high risk strains can also cause cancer of the cervix and v***a.
Treatment is key in managing this infection.
What are the symptoms of ge***al warts?
Ge***al warts are transmitted through s*xual activity, including oral, va**nal, and a**l s*x. You may not start to develop warts for several weeks or months after infection.
Ge***al warts aren’t always visible to the human eye. They may be very small and the color of the skin or slightly darker. The top of the growths may resemble a cauliflower and may feel smooth or slightly bumpy to the touch.
They may occur as a cluster of warts, or just one wart.
For people assigned male at birth, ge***al warts may appear in the following areas:
p***s
sc***um
groin
thighs
inside or around the a**s
For people assigned female at birth, these warts may appear:
inside of the va**na or a**s
outside of the va**na or a**s
on the cervix
Ge***al warts may also appear on the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat of a person who has had oral s*xual contact with a person who has HPV.
Even if you can’t see ge***al warts, they may still cause symptoms, such as:
va**nal discharge
itching
bleeding
burning
If ge***al warts spread or become enlarged, the condition can be uncomfortable or even painful.
What causes ge***al warts?
About 90 percentTrusted Source of ge***al warts are caused by the low risk HPV types 6 and 11, according to the National Cancer Institute.
There are 30 to 40 strains of HPV that specifically affect the ge****ls, but just a few of these strains cause ge***al warts.
The HPV virus is highly transmittable through skin-to-skin contact, which is why it’s considered an STI.
In fact, HPV is so common that the CDCTrusted Source says most s*xually active people get it at some point.
However, the virus doesn’t always lead to complications such as ge***al warts. In fact, in most cases, the virus goes away on its own without causing any health problems.
Ge***al warts are usually caused by strains of HPV that differ from the strains that cause warts on your hands or other parts of the body.
How are ge***al warts diagnosed?
To diagnose this condition, your doctor will do the following:
Ask questions about your health and s*xual history. This includes symptoms you’ve experienced and whether you’ve had s*x, including oral s*x, without condoms or oral dams.
Perform a physical examination of any areas where you suspect warts may be occurring. Your doctor may be able to diagnose ge***al warts just by viewing them.
Testing
Your doctor may apply a mild acidic solution, called an acetowhite test, to your skin to help make ge***al warts more visible. It may cause a slight burning sensation.
If you have a v***a, your doctor may also need to perform a pelvic examination, because ge***al warts can occur deep inside your body.
How are ge***al warts treated?
While visible ge***al warts often go away with time, HPV itself can linger in your skin cells. This means you may have several outbreaks over the course of your life.
So managing symptoms is important because you want to avoid transmitting the virus to others. That said, ge***al warts can be passed on to others even when there are no visible warts or other symptoms.
You may wish to treat ge***al warts to relieve painful symptoms or to minimize their appearance. However, you can’t treat ge***al warts with over-the-counter (OTC) wart removers or treatments.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe topical wart treatments that might include:
imiquimod (Aldara)
podophyllin and podofilox (Condylox)
trichloroacetic acid, or TCA
Surgery
If visible warts don’t go away with time, you may need minor surgery to remove them. Your doctor can also remove warts through these procedures:
electrocautery, or burning warts with electric currents
cryosurgery, or freezing warts
laser treatments
excision, or cutting off warts
injections of the drug interferon
Home remedies for ge***al warts
Don’t use OTC treatments meant for hand warts on ge***al warts.
Hand and ge***al warts are caused by different strains of HPV. Treatments designed for other areas of the body are often much stronger than treatments used on the ge****ls.
Using the wrong treatments may do more harm than good.
Some home remedies are touted as helpful in treating ge***al warts, but there is little evidence to support them. Always check with your doctor before trying a home remedy.Risk factors for ge***al warts
Any s*xually active person is at risk of getting HPV. However, ge***al warts are more common for people who:
have multiple s*xual partners
have weakened immune systems
are under the age of 30
smoke
What are other possible complications of HPV?
Ge***al warts are a low risk strain of HPV infection.
High risk strains such as HPV 16 and HPV 18 are implicated in a majority of cervical cancers. They can also lead to precancerous changes to the cells of the cervix, which is called dysplasia.
Other types of HPV may also cause cancer of the v***a. They can also cause:
pe**le cancer
a**l cancer
throat cancer
esophageal cancer
How to prevent ge***al warts
To help prevent ge***al warts, HPV vaccines, condoms, and other barrier methods are available:
Gardasil and Gardasil 9 can protect people of all genders from the most common HPV strains that cause ge***al warts, and can also protect against strains of HPV that are linked to cervical cancer.
People from ages 9 to 45 can receive these vaccines. They’re administered in a series of two or three shots, depending on age. Both types of vaccine should be given before the person becomes s*xually active, as they’re most effective before a person is exposed to HPV.
Using a condom or a dental dam every time you have s*x can also lower your risk of contracting ge***al warts. The important thing is to use a physical barrier to prevent transmission.
When to contact a doctor
If you think you have ge***al warts, talk with your doctor. They can determine if you have warts and what your best treatment options are.
In addition, it’s important to talk with your s*xual partner. This may sound difficult, but being open about your condition can help you protect your partner from also getting an HPV infection and ge***al warts.
Note:
Ge***al warts are a complication of a low risk HPV infection that’s common and treatable. They can disappear over time, but treatment is essential in preventing their return and possible complications