Genital Warts

Genital warts are caused by viruses that infect the genital and anal skin. There are many wart virus types and most sexually active people carry wart viruses. Wart viruses are linked to vaginal and anal cancers.

Last updated: 19 June 2008

What are genital warts?

Genital warts are caused by a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are over 100 different types of HPV that affect the skin on various parts of the body. About 40 of these affect the genital skin. HPV is very common, so most sexually active men and women are likely to have been exposed to HPV.

What are the symptoms?

Only a small number of people infected with HPV develop visible warts. The first sign of genital warts are growths or lumps in the genital and anal area which can appear up to 3- 12 months after infection with HPV. Warts are usually painless.

Warts can appear on the vulval skin, inside the vagina or on the cervix (neck of the womb), the penis and scrotal skin, the anus.

Often there are no visible warts. HPV, the virus that causes warts, may be detected on Pap smears even if no warts are present.

How is it spread?

Genital warts are transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, usually during vaginal or anal sex. The wart virus can pass from one person to another person and from one part of the body to another, even when no warts are visible.

Genital warts are contagious even when there are no noticeable symptoms.

Who is at risk?

All sexually active people are at risk of catching genital warts. Genital warts are so common that 80% of sexually active people will have been exposed to at least one type of genital wart during their life. This exposure often occurs soon after becoming sexually active.

How is it prevented?

Condoms can reduce some of the risk of transmission of genital warts but they are not 100% effective because they don't cover all the genital skin areas where the virus can live.

HPV vaccines protect against exposure to some strains of wart virus that are linked to cervical cancer. Immunisation is most effective when girls are in their early teens, before they are sexually active. It is considered less effective after the age of 26 years when most people will have already been exposed to HPV. See www.australia.gov.au/cervicalcancer for more information.

Minimise or stop smoking - smoking is associated with recurring visible warts and failure to respond to treatment

How is it diagnosed?

Genital warts can be detected by checking for visible warts on the skin around the genitals and anus. Pap smears detect HPV related changes in cervical cells, even when no warts can be seen.

How is it treated?

Genital warts can be removed by freezing, burning, laser or by applying a special liquid or cream. Genital warts are different to the warts you get elsewhere on your body (such as your hands or feet), so do not use wart paints for hands or feet on your genitals.

If left untreated, warts occasionally disappear by themselves but, more often than not, they increase in size and number, making them more difficult to treat. Warts sometimes reappear after treatment so you may need more than one course of treatment before they resolve. Follow your doctor's advice about treatment and care of the infected area.

For women, the wart virus is linked with cell changes on the cervix which, if untreated, may develop into cervical cancer. This means that women should have regular Pap smears for early detection of HPV and cervical cell changes. People who have anal sex may be at risk of wart related anal cancers. Ask your doctor if you should have a check-up for anal warts or early signs of anal cancer.

What is the public health response?

If you have recently been diagnosed with genital warts it is important to tell your current sexual partner(s) so they can be checked and treated. Your doctor or sexual health clinic can help you decide who may be at risk and help you to contact them. If you wish, this can be done anonymously by your doctor.

Avoid sex until after treatment has been completed and the skin around the warts have healed completely.

Further Information

Sexual Health Information Line (02) 9382 7440 or Freecall 1800 451 624 (outside Sydney).

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