What Are Genital Warts?
Genital warts, or Condylomata Acuminata, are small growths in the genital and anal areas. These warts are caused by specific Human Papillomavirus, or ‘HPV’ strains, the most common HPV types being HPV 6 and HPV 11.
Genital warts affect anyone, regardless of gender, who has unprotected sex with an infected person and can also pass on through skin-to-skin contact.
What Do Genital Warts Look Like?
Genital warts look like small, skin-coloured or whitish bumps in the genital area of men and women. They can be smooth and flat or have a rough, bumpy surface that gives them a cauliflower-like appearance. Genital warts may appear as a single bump or in groups forming a cluster.
Genital Warts In Men
In men, genital warts can appear on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum, or around the anus. They may also appear in the mouth or throat after oral sex with an infected person.
Genital Warts In Women
In women, genital warts can appear on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, and the cervix.
They can also occur in the mouth or throat if one has had oral sex with an infected individual.
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Genital Warts Symptoms
Genital warts are primarily characterised by small, painless growths in the genital or anal area.
However, genital warts can sometimes cause discomfort depending on location and size. The common signs to look for include:
- Small, flesh-coloured or grey swellings in the genital area.
- A cluster of bumps that take on a cauliflower shape.
- Itching, discomfort, or a burning sensation in the genital area.
- Bleeding during intercourse (this is rare).
It’s crucial to remember that genital warts can take weeks or months to appear after sexual contact with an infected person, or they may never appear.
The genital HPV infection can still be transmitted even if the genital warts are not visible.
Can I Get Genital Warts From Sex Toys?
Yes, you can get genital warts from sharing sex toys.
Are All Bumps Genital Warts?
Not all bumps on the genitals are warts. There are other infections and normal skin conditions that might look like a wart but are something else. If you think you have genital warts, it’s essential to get checked out by a doctor or sexual health clinic.
Do I Have Genital Warts?
If you suspect you have genital warts, it’s crucial to seek medical advice promptly. A healthcare provider can diagnose genital warts through a physical examination.
In women, a Pap smear can detect changes in the cervix caused by the HPV infection. A high-resolution anoscopy can diagnose genital warts in the anal canal.
Diagnose Genital Warts
In some cases, a healthcare provider may apply a weak acetic solution to the suspected area, causing white changes in the skin where warts are present.
However, this method has limited accuracy and might not confirm the presence of genital warts.
How Do I Get Treated for Genital Warts?
The aim of genital warts treatment is to remove visible genital warts to alleviate the symptoms of genital warts and reduce transmission. However, none of these treatments cure the virus, and recurrences can happen; it is impossible to stop genital warts completely.
Options for treating genital warts include:
- Topical Treatments: Prescription creams or lotions, such as imiquimod, podofilox, and trichloroacetic acid, can be applied directly to genital warts at home.
- Cryotherapy: This involves freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen, causing them to fall off.
- Electrocautery: Using an electrical current, the warts are burned off.
- Laser Therapy: This is often reserved for larger or harder-to-treat genital warts.
- Surgical Removal: For more prominent warts, surgical removal may be necessary.
Get Diagnosed For Genital Warts At Broadgate GP
If you think that you may have genital warts, we can help you. At our sexual health clinic, we can tell you whether you have genital warts or not during a confidential appointment.
Regular Check-Ups For A HPV Infection
Remember, just because you can’t see genital warts doesn’t mean that HPV isn’t present. The virus can still be transmitted even if no warts are visible, which makes regular check-ups, STI tests and safe sexual practices all the more crucial, especially if you are sexually active.
If you notice any unusual growths, fluid filled blisters, or other changes in your genital area, you must seek medical advice.
