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Genital warts and genital warts treatment

How common are they?
Genital warts are the most common viral sexually transmitted infection in the UK. Genital warts affect both men and women but in the UK there are more diagnoses in men than women. In 2006 there were over 83,000 new diagnoses of genital warts in the UK, and over 17,500 diagnoses of recurrent genital warts.
What causes genital warts?
Genital warts are extremely common. Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and are found around or on the penis, vagina or anus. The majority of sexually active people will have been exposed to the type of HPV that causes genital warts, but only a small proportion will actively develop genital warts.
Are there different types of HPV?
There are lots of different types of HPV, known as sub-types. Sub-types 6 and 11 cause warts on the external genitals. Other sub-types cause warts elsewhere on the body. Certain HPV types can cause cervical cancer, the second most common cause of cancer in females worldwide. HPV 16 and 18 are thought to cause around 70% of cervical cancers.
What symptoms are associated with genital warts?
Genital warts don't usually hurt, although symptoms might include itching and a little bleeding from warts inside the vagina or anus.
How are genital warts diagnosed?
DrThom can diagnose genital warts online through our photo upload service. Having diagnosed genital warts, our doctors can also offer treatment by post if appropriate. In a typical NHS genito urinary medicine clinic (GUM clinic) a doctor or nurse would tend to diagnose genital warts simply by looking at them. If there is any doubt, the doctor or nurse may put some liquid on the potential genital wart to help with the diagnosis. The liquid doesn't hurt.
How might I have got genital warts?
Genital warts are spread by close skin-to-skin contact. Sex, especially penetrative vaginal and anal sex, is the main way that warts are passed on. Where you get the warts doesn't necessarily mirror how you got the genital warts. For example a person may get warts around the anus without any history of anal sex.
Do condoms protect against the spread of genital warts?
Careful use of condoms protects against many infections but may not give full protection against infection with warts as there may be virus outside the area covered by the condom.
Can genital warts be treated?
Genital warts can disappear by themselves but it's best to get genital warts treated. Genital warts can be treated either by painting them with a cream or freezing them with gas. There are two creams, Aldara and Warticon. Both are available through DrThom. Freezing off the genital warts is called cryotherapy. You may have to visit a GUM clinic a number of times before your genital warts have gone.
Can genital warts be passed on to a partner?
Genital warts can be easily transmitted and you shouldn't have unprotected sex until they appear to have gone.
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