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| Genital warts |
Genital warts are small growths that develop on or around the genital or anal area following infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is extremely common and can affect both men and women.
One important misconception needs to be cleared up immediately: having genital warts does not mean that you have cancer or will develop cancer.
Most genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV types, particularly HPV 6 and HPV 11. These are different from the high-risk HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers.
Genital warts can be uncomfortable, embarrassing or worrying, but they are treatable. Understanding what causes them, how HPV spreads and when to seek medical care can help you make informed decisions about your health.
What Are Genital Warts?
Genital warts, also called anogenital warts, are growths caused by infection with certain types of HPV.
They may occur individually or in groups. Some are flat, while others are raised or have a rough, cauliflower-like appearance.
Genital warts are often painless and may be so small that a person does not notice them. Depending on their size and location, however, they can cause itching, irritation, discomfort or pain.
HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for approximately 90% of anogenital warts.
What Is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a large group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes.
HPV types are commonly described as low-risk or high-risk according to their association with cancer.
Low-risk HPV types such as HPV 6 and 11 commonly cause genital warts but generally do not cause cancer.
High-risk HPV types can cause persistent infections that may eventually lead to precancerous changes and cancers, including cervical cancer and some cancers of the anus, penis, vulva, vagina and throat.
This distinction is important because the HPV types that usually cause visible genital warts are different from those responsible for most HPV-related cancers.
How Do You Get Genital Warts?
HPV is mainly transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin sexual contact.
Transmission can occur during:
- Vaginal sex
- Anal sex
- Oral sex
- Genital-to-genital contact, even without penetration
A person can transmit HPV even when there are no visible genital warts or other symptoms.
Condoms can reduce the risk of HPV transmission, but they do not provide complete protection because HPV can infect areas of skin that a condom does not cover.
How Long After HPV Infection Do Genital Warts Appear?
Genital warts do not necessarily appear immediately after someone acquires HPV.
They may develop months or even years after infection. Because of this, it is usually impossible to determine exactly when HPV was acquired or which partner transmitted it.
This has an important implication for relationships.
Does HPV Mean Your Partner Cheated?
No.
Finding genital warts does not prove that a partner has recently been unfaithful.
HPV infections can remain unnoticed for a long time, and partners often share HPV without either person knowing they have it. One partner may develop visible warts while the other never develops symptoms.
Therefore, the appearance of genital warts should not be used to determine when HPV was acquired or who transmitted it.
What Do Genital Warts Look Like?
Genital warts vary considerably in appearance.
They may be:
- Small flesh-coloured or slightly darker growths
- Flat or raised
- Smooth or rough
- Single or clustered together
- Occasionally shaped like a small cauliflower
Some are difficult to see without a medical examination.
Where Can Genital Warts Appear?
In women, genital warts may occur around the vulva, vaginal opening, vagina, cervix, perineum or anus.
In men, they may occur on the penis, under the foreskin, scrotum, groin, perineum or around the anus.
HPV-related warts can also occur in the mouth or throat, although oral HPV infection does not necessarily produce visible warts.
What Are the Symptoms of Genital Warts?
Many genital warts cause no symptoms.
When symptoms occur, they may include:
- Visible genital growths
- Itching
- Irritation
- Discomfort
- Pain, particularly depending on their location
- Bleeding from irritated lesions in some cases
A genital growth should not automatically be assumed to be an HPV wart. Several other conditions can produce bumps, ulcers or growths around the genital area.
Who Is More Likely to Develop Genital Warts?
Anyone exposed to wart-causing HPV can develop genital warts.
Factors that can influence HPV persistence or make HPV-related disease more problematic include:
- Having a weakened immune system
- HIV infection or other causes of immunosuppression
- Smoking
- Sexual exposure to HPV
- Not being vaccinated against HPV
People with weakened immune systems may develop larger or more numerous warts and may respond differently to treatment.
How Are Genital Warts Diagnosed?
A healthcare professional can usually diagnose external genital warts by examining the affected area.
A biopsy may be required when a lesion looks unusual, the diagnosis is uncertain, the growth is bleeding or ulcerated, treatment is unsuccessful, or the condition becomes worse during treatment.
HPV testing is not normally used to diagnose genital warts because the result does not confirm that a particular lesion is a wart or determine how the wart should be treated.
Because genital warts can be sexually transmitted, a healthcare professional may also recommend testing for other sexually transmitted infections based on your individual risk.
Can Genital Warts Be Treated?
Yes.
Treatment can remove visible genital warts and relieve symptoms. However, there is an important distinction:
Removing genital warts does not necessarily eliminate HPV from the body.
Some genital warts disappear without treatment, some remain unchanged and others increase in size or number.
Treatment therefore depends on factors including the number, size and location of the warts, pregnancy status, symptoms, patient preference and the healthcare professional's assessment.
Treatments for Genital Warts
Treatment should be selected with a qualified healthcare professional rather than through self-diagnosis.
Depending on the location and characteristics of the warts, treatment options may include prescription medicines applied to suitable external warts or procedures performed by a healthcare professional.
Current treatment options include:
- Imiquimod
- Podofilox (podophyllotoxin)
- Sinecatechins
- Cryotherapy, which freezes the wart
- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or bichloroacetic acid (BCA)
- Surgical removal
- Electrosurgery/electrocautery
- Laser treatment in selected cases
An older treatment called podophyllin resin is no longer among the preferred recommended treatments because safer alternatives are available.
Not every treatment is appropriate for every person or every location. Some medicines should not be used during pregnancy.
Do not apply ordinary over-the-counter wart-removal products intended for the hands or feet to genital tissue unless specifically instructed by a healthcare professional.
Can Genital Warts Come Back After Treatment?
Yes.
Genital warts can recur even after successful removal because treatment targets the visible wart rather than guaranteeing elimination of HPV infection.
Recurrence is particularly common during the first few months following treatment.
This does not necessarily mean that treatment failed or that a person has acquired a new HPV infection.
Genital Warts, Sex and Your Partner
If you have genital warts, discussing the diagnosis with current sexual partners is sensible.
Partners may already share HPV even when they have no visible symptoms.
Condoms can lower the risk of transmission but cannot completely prevent HPV because uncovered genital skin may carry the virus.
Current partners do not generally need an HPV test simply because their partner has genital warts. However, they may benefit from an examination if they have lesions or symptoms and from appropriate screening or testing for other STIs.
Genital Warts During Pregnancy
Pregnant women who notice genital growths should discuss them with a healthcare professional.
Some genital-wart medicines are unsuitable during pregnancy, and treatment choices may need to be modified.
Genital warts can sometimes increase in size or number during pregnancy. Transmission of HPV from mother to baby can occur, but serious HPV-related disease in infants is uncommon.
Pregnant women should therefore avoid self-treatment and obtain professional assessment.
Do Genital Warts Cause Cervical Cancer?
This is one of the most important questions about HPV.
The HPV types that usually cause genital warts are not the types responsible for most cervical cancers.
Around 90% of anogenital warts are associated with non-oncogenic HPV types 6 and 11.
Cervical cancer, on the other hand, develops mainly following persistent infection with high-risk or oncogenic HPV types. HPV 16 and 18 are among the most important cancer-causing types.
A woman can, however, be infected with more than one HPV type at the same time. Having genital warts therefore does not replace the need for appropriate cervical cancer screening.
Women with genital warts also do not automatically need cervical screening more frequently solely because they have warts. Screening should follow the appropriate national or clinical recommendations for their age and risk.
HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention
Persistent infection with cancer-causing HPV types is responsible for almost all cervical cancers.
The World Health Organization recommends a combination of HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening and appropriate treatment of precancerous lesions to prevent cervical cancer.
Women should not wait until they develop symptoms before thinking about cervical screening because precancerous cervical changes frequently cause no symptoms.
Women living with HIV require particular attention because their risk of developing cervical cancer is substantially higher than that of women without HIV.
Read our detailed guide to [Cervical Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Screening and Prevention] for more information about screening and early detection.
HPV and HIV
People living with HIV can have more persistent HPV infections because immune function plays an important role in controlling HPV.
Women living with HIV also have a substantially increased risk of cervical cancer. The World Health Organization reports that women living with HIV are approximately six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than women without HIV.
This makes appropriate HIV care, cervical screening and HPV prevention particularly important.
For more information about HIV prevention and testing, see our [HIV Transmission and Prevention Guide].
Can HPV Vaccination Prevent Genital Warts?
HPV vaccination can protect against important HPV types responsible for genital warts and HPV-related cancers, depending on the vaccine used.
The vaccine works best when given before exposure to HPV.
It is important to understand that HPV vaccination is preventive:
The HPV vaccine does not remove existing genital warts or cure an HPV infection that a person already has.
However, vaccination can still provide protection against HPV types that an eligible person has not previously encountered.
HPV Vaccination in Nigeria
Nigeria introduced HPV vaccination into its routine immunisation programme in 2023, initially targeting girls aged 9 to 14 years.
The programme is an important part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer because vaccination before exposure to high-risk HPV provides strong protection against the HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers.
Parents and caregivers can ask at government primary healthcare facilities about current HPV vaccine eligibility and availability in their state.
Adults interested in HPV vaccination should discuss their eligibility and potential benefit with a qualified healthcare professional, particularly because recommendations may differ according to age, previous vaccination and individual circumstances.
How Can You Reduce Your Risk of HPV?
No single measure completely eliminates the possibility of acquiring HPV, but risk can be reduced through:
- HPV vaccination when eligible
- Correct and consistent condom use
- Avoiding sexual contact when visible genital warts are present
- Limiting exposure to new sexual partners
- Not smoking
- Attending recommended cervical cancer screening
- Seeking appropriate sexual-health care when symptoms develop
Because HPV is extremely common, acquiring it should not be viewed as evidence of poor hygiene or promiscuity.
When Should You See a Healthcare Professional?
Seek medical assessment if you notice a new or unexplained growth around your genitals or anus, particularly if it:
- Persists or increases in size
- Bleeds
- Becomes painful
- Develops an ulcer
- Changes colour or appearance
- Occurs during pregnancy
- Does not respond to previously prescribed treatment
People with weakened immune systems, including people living with HIV, should also seek appropriate clinical assessment rather than relying on self-treatment.
Common Myths About Genital Warts and HPV
Myth 1: Genital warts mean you have cancer.
False. The HPV types responsible for most genital warts are different from the high-risk types responsible for most HPV-related cancers.
Myth 2: HPV means your partner recently cheated.
False. HPV can remain unnoticed for months or years, making it impossible in most cases to determine exactly when infection occurred.
Myth 3: Removing a wart cures HPV.
False. Treatment removes visible warts but does not necessarily eradicate HPV infection.
Myth 4: Condoms completely prevent HPV.
False. Condoms reduce transmission risk but HPV can infect genital skin that is not covered by a condom.
Myth 5: Only women get HPV.
False. HPV affects both men and women and can cause genital warts and several HPV-related cancers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can genital warts disappear without treatment?
Yes. Some genital warts disappear naturally, while others remain unchanged or become larger or more numerous. A healthcare professional can help determine whether treatment or observation is appropriate.
Can genital warts return after removal?
Yes. Recurrence is possible because removing the wart does not necessarily eliminate HPV infection.
Can someone transmit HPV without having genital warts?
Yes. HPV can be transmitted even when no visible wart or other symptom is present.
Should my partner get tested for HPV if I have genital warts?
Routine HPV testing of partners specifically because one partner has genital warts is generally not recommended. Partners with suspicious lesions should seek examination, and appropriate STI screening may also be considered.
Does the HPV vaccine treat genital warts?
No. HPV vaccines prevent new infections with HPV types covered by the vaccine but do not treat existing genital warts.
Final Takeaway
Genital warts are a common manifestation of HPV infection, but genital warts and cervical cancer should not be treated as the same disease process.
Most genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV types 6 and 11, while persistent infection with certain high-risk HPV types is responsible for almost all cervical cancers.
Visible warts can be treated, although they may recur. HPV vaccination, safer sexual practices, appropriate STI care and cervical cancer screening remain important tools for reducing the wider health effects of HPV.
If you discover an unexplained genital growth, avoid diagnosing or treating it yourself. A qualified healthcare professional can determine whether it is a genital wart or another condition and recommend appropriate treatment.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection: Anogenital Warts. STI Treatment Guidelines.
World Health Organization. Cervical cancer. Updated 3 July 2026.
World Health Organization. Human papillomavirus (HPV).
World Health Organization. WHO guideline for screening and treatment of cervical pre-cancer lesions for cervical cancer prevention: use of HPV DNA genotyping. 8 May 2026.
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