Genital warts: Overview

Also called condylomata acuminata

Genital warts are warts that appear in the genital area. There can be one wart or a cluster of warts. People get these warts by picking up the human papillomavirus (HPV) from someone who is already infected with this virus.

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection. It is possible to spread or get these warts even when you cannot see them.

Of the 100 or so types of HPV, just a few can cause genital warts. Some HPV types can cause cervical cancer. Other types can cause anal cancer, cancer of the penis, or mouth and throat cancer. You can get more than one type of HPV.

There are many ways to treat genital warts. Since warts are often stubborn, you may need more than one visit to the dermatologist.

Related AAD resources

• Genital herpes: Signs, symptoms, and treatment

Images
Images used with permission of Dermatology DDxDeck, card #55. (Habif TP, Campbell JL, Chapman, MS et al. Dermatology DDxDeck. 2006; Mosby Elsevier.)