Genital warts (caused by the virus HPV, or ‘human papilloma virus’) are small, often painless bumps in or round the vagina, penis, or anus. 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.
HPV can be prevented with the HPV vaccine. The vaccine to protect you from HPV is for people of all genders who:
- Are 9 to 45 years of age
- Have not yet had sex
- Have had sex, but do not have HPV
- The test for HPV is simple and painless.
If a person with a vagina has the kind of HPV that causes genital warts, they may also have another kind of HPV that causes cervical cancer. Any person with a vagina who has had genital warts should have a Pap smear at least once a year to check for cervical cancer.