Genital Warts

Genital warts are a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes warts (small bumps or growths) to form in and around your genitals and rectum. Certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause genital warts. While there’s no cure for HPV itself, you can receive treatment for genital warts. You can give genital warts to other people through vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Where can you get genital warts?

Genital warts can infect your:

• Groin area.
• Anus.
• Rectum.
• Penis and scrotum.
• Vagina (including inside of your vagina), vulva, vaginal lips (labia minora and labia majora) and cervix.
• Lips, mouth, tongue or throat.

Who might get genital warts?

Genital warts affect all genders. It’s most common in teenagers and young adults. People assigned male at birth (AMAB) are slightly more at risk. Your chances of getting genital warts increase if you:

• Don’t use condoms or dental dams while having sex.
• Have multiple sexual partners.

How common are genital warts?

An estimated 400,000 people — most of them in their late teens and 20s — get genital warts every year. The virus that causes these warts, HPV, is the most common STI. Approximately 79 million Americans have HPV. There are many different types of HPV. Not all types of HPV cause genital warts. HPV 6 and HPV 11 are the two strains that cause genital warts.

Are genital warts contagious?

Yes, genital warts and the virus that causes them (HPV) are both contagious. There isn’t a cure for HPV. Once you have the virus, you’re always infectious (you can always spread it to others). Even if you don’t have symptoms like visible genital warts, or you have the warts removed, you can still infect another person with HPV and genital warts.