Pictures of genital warts can help you to identify the bumps resulting from the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Warts can:
The timing of genital warts can vary widely from person to person.
HPV infection can occur with or without the appearance of genital warts.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
Warts can take up to two or three months to develop on the skin.
Penis and Scrotum
The picture below displays genital warts on the shaft of the penis.
Warts can also appear on the scrotum.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2024.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from DermNetdermnetnz.org2024.
However, genital warts can also appear on thevulvaand on thecervix, deeper within the vagina.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2024.
Perineum
Theperineumis the area between the genitals and the anus.
The picture below shows a case of genital warts around the vagina and the perineum.
Reproduced with permission from DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Cincinnati STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
Anal Warts
Genital warts can appear around or inside the anus.
Anal warts rarely block the anal opening.
Genital warts can occur from HPV types often referred to as low-risk (noncancerous).
Cincinnati STD/HIV Prevention Training Center
Location
The location of genital warts does not always match up with areas of sexual contact.
Warts usually appear at the site of reported contact.
However, they can also be found at sites where people report no history of sexual contact.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Diagnosis
In most cases, healthcare providers can diagnose genital warts just from visual inspection.
However, some lesions can be hard to identify.
The biopsy can confirm the presence of HPV and identify the subtype of the virus.
Genital warts can be mistaken for other types of lesions that commonly appear on the genitals.
Vaccination withGardasil 9is recommended as part of routine care beginning at age 11 or 12.
TheHPV vaccineis approved to be administered as early as 9 years old.
It can also be given, in some cases, up to age 45.
Treatment
Genital warts may go away on their own without treatment, often within one year.
But it is also possible that they will grow and spread.
They can also stay and remain the same size.
Treatments include:
With treatment, visible warts will usually go away.
For some people, genital warts come back even if they follow all the steps for treatment.
Even after treatment and without visible warts, you may still be able to pass HPV to sexual partners.
These products are not designed for treating warts in the delicate genital areas.
Summary
Genital warts are a symptom of infection from certain types of HPV.
They typically appear on the genitals but can also be found on the anus and perineum.
Anywart, bump, or growthshould be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Typically, a visual examination is all that is required.
Your provider can then prescribe treatment for your warts, if appropriate.
At-home treatments are typically not effective or safe on the delicate skin of the genitals.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital HPV infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chapter 5: Human papillomavirus (HPV).
University of Rochester Medical Center.Warts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines: Anogenital warts.
Quinlan JD.Human Papillomavirus: Screening, Testing, and Prevention.Am Fam Physician.
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