What Are Genital Warts? Genital warts are warts that are on or near the vagina or penis (the genitals). What Causes Genital Warts? Genital warts are usually a sexually transmitted disease (STD). They're caused by HPV (human papillomavirus). There are many different strains of the HPV virus. Some can cause genital warts, while others can lead to cervical cancer and other types of cancer. What Are STDs? STDs (also called sexually transmitted infections or STIs) are infections that spread through sex (vaginal, oral, or anal), or close sexual contact. What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Genital Warts? Many people infected with HPV never get warts. If warts do develop, they usually come within a few months. But sometimes, they show up years later. The warts can be on or near: the vulva, vagina, cervix, or anus in females the penis, scrotum, or anus in males Genital warts can be raised or flat, small or large. Sometimes they're grouped together in a cauliflower-like shape. Some warts can be so small and flat that they're not noticed right away. Most of the time, genital warts are painless. Some people, though, may have itching, bleeding, burning, or pain. How Do People Get Genital Warts? The HPV that causes genital warts usually spreads from having vaginal, oral, or anal sex or close sexual contact with the genital area. Even if there are no warts, HPV might still be active in the genital area and can spread to others. It is not always possible for people to know when they got infected with HPV. This is because: the virus can be in the body for months to years before warts develop they might have had warts before that weren't noticed How Are Genital Warts Diagnosed? Health care providers usually can diagnose genital warts by looking at them. Sometimes, doctors take a small sample of the wart to send to a lab for testing. This usually isn't painful. How Are Genital Warts Treated? Treatments to remove genital warts include: medicines put on or into the warts lasers, cold, or heat put on the warts surgery Sometimes, warts come back after treatment. This is because the treatments can't get rid of all of the HPV in the body. How Long Do Genital Warts Last? How long genital warts last can vary from person to person. Sometimes, the immune system clears the warts within a few months. But even if the warts go away, the HPV might still be active in the body. So the warts can come back. Usually within 2 years, the warts and the HPV are gone from the body. When Is Someone With Genital Warts No Longer Contagious? People with genital warts definitely can spread HPV. But even after the warts are gone, HPV might still be active in the body. That means it can spread to someone else through sex or close sexual contact and cause warts in that person. It's hard to know when people are no longer contagious, because there's no blood test that looks for HPV. Most of the time, HPV is gone within 2 years of when someone was infected. Can Genital Warts Be Prevented? Genital warts and other types of HPV can be prevented by a vaccine. The HPV vaccine series is recommended for all kids when they're 9–11 years old. Older teens and adults also can get the vaccine (up to age 45). Even if someone already has had one type of HPV infection, the HPV vaccine can protect against other types of HPV. HPV almost always spreads through sex. So another way to prevent genital warts is to not have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). If someone does decide to have sex, using a condom every time for sex (vaginal, oral, anal) helps prevent HPV and other STDs. But condoms can't always prevent HPV because they don't cover all areas where HPV can live. Should Sexual Partners Be Told About Genital Warts? Someone diagnosed with genital warts should have an honest conversation with sexual partners. Partners need to be seen by a health care provider who can check for genital warts and do screenings for other STDs. If the couple plan to continue having sex, both people need to understand that a condom will help lower the risk of spreading genital warts/HPV but can't completely prevent it. Looking Ahead Someone diagnosed with genital warts should: Know that HPV can spread to partners during sex, even if there are no warts. Tell any sexual partners about the warts before having sex. Know to use a condom every time they have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). Get tested for other STDs as recommended by their health care provider. Gets all doses of the HPV vaccine, if they haven't already. Back to Articles Related Articles About Birth Control: What Parents Need to Know Talking to your kids about sex can be a challenge. But discussing issues like birth control can help lower teens' risk of unintended pregnancy or getting an STD. Read More Condoms Condoms may be a good birth control option for couples who are responsible enough to use one each time and people who want protection against STDs. Read More Do I Need a Pelvic Exam if I Had the HPV Vaccine? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Do I Have to Get All My HPV Vaccine Shots? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) You've probably heard lots of discouraging news about sexually transmitted diseases. The good news is that STDs can be prevented. Find out how to protect yourself. Read More Can Getting the HPV Vaccine Help If I Already Have Genital Warts? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Does the HPV Vaccine Cause Paralysis? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More About Condoms Condoms are thin pouches that keep sperm from getting into the vagina. There are male condoms and female condoms. Read More Questions and Answers About Sex Answering kids' questions about sex is a responsibility many parents dread. But by answering these questions honestly, parents can help foster healthy feelings about sex. Read More Warts Nobody likes a wart. Find out why kids get them and how to get rid of them. Read More Warts Most warts are easy to treat and are rarely cause for alarm. Read this article for more information on warts and how to get rid of them. Read More Your Child's Immunizations: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Find out when and why your child needs to get this vaccine. Read More Can You Still Get Genital Warts If You've Had All the HPV Shots? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More HPV Vaccine The HPV vaccine can help protect against the virus that causes genital warts and may lead to some kinds of cancer. Find out more in this article for teens. Read More Should Girls Who Aren't Sexually Active Be Vaccinated Against HPV? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More About Birth Control Before you consider having sex, you need to know how to protect yourself. Read this article to get the basics on birth control. Read More Warts Many of us have had a wart somewhere on our bodies at some time. But other than being a nuisance, most warts are harmless. Read More I Have Bumps On My Penis. Is This Normal? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Do You Have to See a Doctor to Find Out if You Have an STD? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Talking to Your Partner About STDs You know you should talk about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) before the action starts. But what if the thought of having "the talk" makes you nervous? These tips can help. Read More Genital Warts (HPV) Genital warts usually are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which also can lead to cervical cancer and other types of cancer. The HPV vaccine can prevent HPV infection. Read More Telling Your Partner You Have an STD People who have STDs might feel apprehensive about discussing their disease with a partner. Here are some tips on talking to a partner when you have an STD. Read More Everything You Wanted to Know About Puberty Voice cracking? Clothes don't fit? Puberty can be a confusing time, but learning about it doesn't have to be. Read all about it. Read More Your Daughter's First Gynecology Visit The idea of going to the gynecologist may make your daughter feel nervous. Here's how to make her feel more comfortable about a well-woman visit. Read More Gyn Checkups Girls should get their first gynecological checkup between ages 13 and 15. Find out what happens during a yearly gyn visit -- and why most girls don't get internal exams. Read More Immunization Schedule Which vaccines does your child need and when? Use this immunization schedule as a handy reference. Read More STDs Parents should learn about the most common STDs, how they spread, and how they're diagnosed and treated. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.