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"Walking together in kindness" artwork produced for Gold Coast Health by Riki Salam, We are 27 Creative.Genital warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is a common sexually transmissible infection.
Genital warts present as lumps or rough areas of skin in the genital or anal area. If you have noticed any new lumps on your penis, vagina, vulva, or anus, seek an assessment by a sexual health specialist or General Practitioner.
Genital warts occur from skin-to-skin contact with somebody who has the infection. Many people who have HPV will show no symptoms, however, may still pass on the infection to their sexual partners. Warts can take several weeks to many months to appear after exposure.
There are a number of ways that genital warts can be treated. These may include freezing (liquid nitrogen), laser treatment, or by applying a topical treatment that you can use at home. Treatment of genital warts may take several visits and recurrence may occur after any type of treatment. Your doctor or nurse will discuss which treatment is most suitable for you.
Over-the-counter treatments are not suitable for treating genital warts, as they can damage the skin.
If your sexual partner has unexplained genital lumps then they should see a doctor/nurse, as they may require treatment. If they do not have any symptoms, they will not be required to attend for assessment.
