Genital Warts (HPV)

What is HPV?

Genital warts are small, often painless bumps in or round the vagina, penis, or anus.

• They are caused by a virus (a kind of germ). It is called HPV (the human papilloma virus).
• You get HPV by having sex with someone who has the virus.
• HPV is spread by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
• Even if the warts go away or are removed, the virus stays in your body and can be spread to others.

Genital Warts can be prevented with the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine is for men and women who are 9 to 26 years of age.

• It prevents most (but not all) genital warts
• It works best if you get it before you have sex for the first time
• It works best if you get it before you have sex for the first time

The test for HPV is simple and painless.

• Symptoms
• Long Term Effects
• Treatment
• Genital Warts and Cervical Cancer

Symptoms

Some people don't show signs even though the wart virus is in their skin. Others do have signs.

• People may see small bumps (warts) in or around the vagina, penis, or anus.
• The bumps may grow in bunches or clusters.
• They may itch.

The virus can be spread to others even when there are no signs.

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Long Term Effects

Genital warts can be treated but not cured. The treatment can help make you feel better and can help take away the warts, but you will always have the virus. Having the virus can cause these problems:

• You can pass it to others.
• You have a higher chance of getting HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).

If a pregnant woman has genital warts, she could have these problems:

• The warts could grow and block the vagina.
• The baby could get the virus.
• Some wart medicines are not safe for pregnant women to use.

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Treatment

The treatment for genital warts is to have a health care provider remove them. There are also some new medicines that you can use at home.

• You may need an exam of the cervix or penis called a colposcopy. Your clinician uses a magnifying glass with a bright light to see the warts.
• The warts can be removed with a special medicine or procedure that causes the wart to fall off.

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Genital Warts and Cervical Cancer

If a woman has the kind of HPV that causes genital warts, she may also have another kind of HPV that causes cervical cancer. Any woman who has had genital warts should have a Pap smear at least once a year to check for cervical cancer.

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