Genital Warts

Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The warts are a bit like the ones you may get on your hands. 

How you get them: 

Through vaginal or anal sex or other genital skin to skin contact.

Symptoms: 

Small pinkish or cauliflower like white lumps that can be on the vulva, penis, scrotum, anus or in the vagina. They may be itchy, but are usually painless. The virus is usually cleared by your immune system and the warts often clear on their own but this can take several weeks. Smokers often take much longer to clear their warts as smoking effects your immune system. It is also much more likely that their warts will come back again in the future after they have cleared up.

Treatment: 

At Chalmers, we do not see patients with genital warts unless they have been referred by their GP. This would normally only happen if the warts have not cleared up after 16 weeks of treatment from your GP.

If you think you have genital warts, then the best place to start is to see your GP for an examination and to discuss whether treatment may be needed. Sometimes the lumps are just skin tags-due to shaving the skin in that area, or molluscum contagiosum another viral infection which clears in its own time without treatment.

Small warts will disappear in their own in time without treatment- many people will clear their warts within a few weeks. For larger warts it can be helpful to have some treatment – either freezing them or using a cream or liquid. Larger warts may still take up to 12 weeks to go away with treatment. Contact your GP who can give you a prescription for treatment if you need it. 

If your warts are still present after a 16 week treatment course from your GP they can refer you to Chalmers for further advice.

Warts clear up when you have made enough antibody against the virus. Smokers take longer to produce this antibody so it is essential that you stop smoking if you want your warts to clear as quickly as possible and not come back.

My sexual partner has genital warts, and I think I have them too – what should I do?

It won’t make any difference to your partner’s warts if you are treated or not.  As above, small warts do not need treatment, larger ones may require treatment.

My sexual partner has genital warts, and I think I have them too – what should I do?

It won’t make any difference to your partner’s warts if you are treated or not. As above, small warts do not need treatment, larger ones may require treatment.

My sexual partner has genital warts but I don’t notice any warts on me – What should I do?

You don’t need to do anything. Most people who have HPV virus don’t get warts (90%). The virus will be cleared by the immune system. It may well have been cleared already.

HPV and links to cervical cancer 

Certain strains of HPV can cause cancers in the genital area (cervical, anal, penile, vulval). These are not the same types that cause genital warts. So having genital warts does not mean that you are at increased risk of cancer. Women with genital warts do not need more regular cervical smear tests.

The HPV vaccine helps protect against the types of HPV which are the most common causes of cancer and the strains of HPV which cause genital warts.​​ So if you or your partner has had the HPV vaccine, your chance of developing warts is much lower, but not zero.