Genital warts are more common than you might expect. Caused by HPV, a virus that affects as many as 13 million Americans each year, genital warts are a normal and treatable part of sexual health. If you’ve noticed symptoms or just want to learn more, you’re not alone. The good news is, care and prevention are easier than ever.
What Are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are small, flat, or rounded lesions. For men, you’ll see them on the penis. For women, they can be on or near the vagina. They can also crop up in other moist areas around your genitals or anus. Sometimes, these warts are too small to see. Other times, they may form small but visible clusters. These lesions may or may not be painful, but they may be itchy instead.
Understanding HPV Infections
HPV, or human papillomavirus, can cause many types of infections, and genital warts are just one of approximately 100 types. In fact, almost everyone who hasn’t received the HPV vaccine will come into contact with the virus at some point.
Remember, many HPV strains are not life-threatening. However, in some cases, genital warts pose a cancer risk. In women, they can be an early warning sign of cervical cancer. In men, they may lead to cancer in other genital areas.
HPV spreads easily through skin-to-skin sexual contact, including oral sex. In some cases, the virus can cause warts to appear in or around the mouth, genitals, or anus. The good news? With proper care and monitoring, HPV and genital warts can be managed safely and discreetly.
How Are Genital Warts Diagnosed?
Because HPV is so common, you should be alert to any symptoms of the virus. Since they may not be painful or visible, though, how do you check for genital warts? The most reliable way to check is to see your doctor.
Will Genital Warts Show Up on an STD Test?
Is there an STD test for genital warts? To date, there’s no effective test. The best way to confirm your condition is for a doctor to visually examine you to see if you have genital warts.
Testing and Screening
If you do have this virus, your doctor may perform additional screening. For example, women can get a pap smear that samples cervical cells. Men can get a cell biopsy to screen for precancerous conditions.
How to Check or Get Tested for Genital Warts
Your first check for genital warts should be visual. Check your genital area for lesions or swelling. Itching, redness, or pain can also indicate infection.
When to See a Provider
If you think you have genital warts, see your medical care provider for confirmation. Then you can take precautions, if necessary, to avoid infecting others.
Treatment and Prevention Options
Several medications can relieve symptoms like pain and itching. The following topical ointments target the wart tissue itself:
- Salicylic acid, which gradually reduces lesions
- Imiquimod, which works to boost your body’s immune response to outbreaks
- Podophyllin, which reduces genital wart lesions
- Sinecatechins, which kill the wart tissue
- Trichloroacetic acid, which burns away wart tissue
Surgical treatment is also an option in more extreme cases. Cryotherapy, for example, freezes the affected skin, making the warts fall off. Electrocautery uses heat instead to burn away the lesions. Laser or surgical removal of wart tissue can address severe outbreaks.
The good news is that genital warts are preventable. An HPV vaccine provides immunity to the virus. Typically, children and teens get the vaccine before they have been exposed to HPV.
Managing Symptoms and Reducing Transmission
You can use an anti-itch ointment for temporary relief of genital wart symptoms. Just make sure it’s safe for sensitive skin. Also, keeping your affected area clean and dry can help.
Let your intimate partner know about your condition before skin-to-skin contact. Honest communication and mindful management can help you reduce transmission of the virus. You deserve care that’s private, inclusive, and stigma-free. If you have questions about STI prevention or want to explore PrEP and DoxyPEP as part of your HIV prevention plan, connect with MISTR. We make sexual health simple, on your terms.