Superdrug Health

Skin

Genital warts appear as small lumps on the genital or anal skin. They usually feel slightly rough and may itch.¹

Genital warts are caused by a virus – known as the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 100 different types of HPV but two of these types cause almost all genital warts.² These are different types of viruses from the ones causing warts on the hands and feet. HPV is easily passed from one person to another through sexual contact and, as the virus is so common, anyone who is sexually active can become infected. Not everyone infected with HPV will develop warts. In fact the majority of people carry the virus without knowing it. Most HPV infection is eventually cleared by the body’s immune system. Certain types of HPV can also cause pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix, vulva, penis and anus.²

Genital warts usually appear as small, fleshy growths or lumps and may appear anywhere on the genital or anal skin, even inside the vagina and anus. They may be so small that you don’t even know you have them. They are painless but may itch and very occasionally bleed, particularly if they are affecting the anus (back passage) or the urethra (water passage).¹ It can take weeks or many months after coming into contact with HPV before warts appear.

Medicines

The aim of treatment is to remove visible genital warts, however this does not clear the virus and for this reason warts do sometimes come back. Commonly used treatments for genital warts include:
• self-applied cream or lotion containing imiquimod or podophyllotoxin. Imiquimod acts by stimulating the body’s immune system to attack the virus, while podophyllotoxin prevents the virus from multiplying.
• freezing with a cold spray (cryotherapy)
• excising (surgically removing the wart) or ‘burning’ (electrocautery’) – performed under local anaesthetic.

Condoms provide some protection but are not 100% effective as they do not cover the entire genital skin. However, remember that condoms are very good at protecting against other sexually acquired infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV.

Unlike warts that appear on other parts of the body, there are no treatments for genital warts that you can buy without a prescription. Wart treatments sold at your local pharmacy do not work for genital warts. Sometimes warts may disappear without treatment; however they may enlarge and spread before improving.

Any lump in the genital or anal skin that fails to clear after a few days should be examined by a doctor. There are clinics that specialise in genital problems called ‘Departments of GU Medicine’ (GUM). You do not need a referral from your GP to visit a GUM clinic and you can be assured that your consultation would remain strictly confidential.

1. British Association for Sexual Health & HIV. National guideline for the management of genital warts (published STI 1999, revised 2002) downloaded October 2006 www.bashh.org/guidelines/2002/hpv_0302b.pdf
2. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. STD Facts – Human papillomavirus (HPV). Downloaded October 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm