Genital warts are a commonsexually transmitted infection (STI)caused byhuman papilloma virus (HPV).
Anyone who has sex can get HPV.
However, many people with HPVnever have symptoms.
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They may appear light and pearly, skin-colored, dark purple, gray, or brown.
These bumps can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower.
Do Genital Warts Stay With You for Life?
Most people who get HPV don’t develop any symptoms.
Further, many people are able to wipe the infection within a couple of years.
However, those with a weakened immune system are more likely to develop genital warts.
If the body is unable to get rid of HPV, symptoms can recur and become chronic.
Genital Warts Causes
Genital warts are because of a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
There are many HPV strains, however, types 6 and 11 are most commonly linked to genital warts.
HPV infection is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact.
In about 90% of cases, HPV goes away on its own without causing any health issues.
It’s possible to pass genital warts to a partner through sexual contact.
Around 43 million Americans have HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are both low-risk and high-risk HPV strains.
Genital warts are due to low-risk strains.
How Can I Prevent Getting Genital Warts?
Chief among these isvaccination.
HPV Vaccine
The CDC recommends routineHPV vaccinationfor all sexes starting at 11 or 12 years old.
In addition, it recommends vaccination for everyone through age 26 who is not adequately vaccinated.
Therefore, the vaccine provides less benefit.
However, it cannot treat an existing infection.
Vaccination works best before exposure to HPV.
Safer Sex Practices
The other way to reduce your risk is to practice safer sex consistently.
Safer sex practices include using barrier protection for sexual activity.
Barriers include:
Can a Married Person Get HPV?
People who are in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship are not likely to get a new HPV infection.
However, having sex with a new partner is a risk factor for getting a new HPV infection.
It is important to remember that HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact.
If genital warts or lesions are present, it is best to avoid sex until they resolve.
However, remember that genital warts are common and they dont cause serious health problems.
In many cases, genital warts can be diagnosed based on a clinical exam.
That said, HPV testing is used to detect high-risk strains that can cause cancer.
Even then, the benefits of testing apply most to people with a cervix.
It can be performed alongside aPap test.
It is recommended in people ages 30 and over.
However, it is generally not used for those in their 20s.
That’s because most infections in this age group will go away independently.
These include gay and bisexual men and men who have tested positive for HIV.
Oral Tests
The oral test’s usefulness is uncertain at best.
That’s because testing positive does not indicate HPV persistence.
Persistence is the problemHPV often has to remain present for decades to lead to oral cancer.
Therefore, oral HPV testing isn’t done.
The best way to diagnose an oral HPV infection is through a visual exam by a doctor or dentist.
That’s because symptoms (if they occur at all) can appear months or even years after infection.
So, given the high infection rate, there is often little way of knowing when the exposure occurred.
HPV infection can cause genital warts in some people.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection - basic fact sheet.
American Academy of Dermatology.Genital warts: Signs and symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology.Genital warts: who gets and causes.
Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of genital warts?
National Cancer Institute.HPV and cancer.
Planned Parenthood.How can I prevent getting or spreading genital warts?
American Academy of Dermatology.Genital warts: tips for managing.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection fact sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Basic information about HPV and cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccination recommendations.
Planned Parenthood.How can I verify I dont get or spread HPV?
National Cancer Institute.HPV and Pap Testing.
American Cancer Society.HPV and HPV testing.
American Cancer Society.Cancer facts for gay and bisexual men.
The Oral Cancer Foundation.HPV oral cancer facts.
Thomas T.Cancer prevention: HPV vaccination.Semin Oncol Nurs.2016;32(3):273-80. doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2016.05.007
