Genital Warts

 What are the Symptoms of Genital Warts?

In most cases, people infected with HPV don't have symptoms. In cases where symptoms are present, they may be so mild that you may not even know you are infected. When Symptoms are present, they may include pain, itching, and bleeding, or you may develop visible genital warts. Usually, symptoms occur 2 to 3 months after you are infected with the virus. When the symptoms appear, they tend to stay from 3 weeks to many years after you have been infected. It is possible to spread the virus even though you do not have any visible warts, however, when you see warts, this indicates that the virus is active.

Our doctors can often tell if you have genital warts by looking closely at your genital and anal areas. They may ask you questions about your symptoms and the risk factors that make you more likely to get an infection. Sometimes our doctors may take a sample tissue from the wart for testing. For women, if you have an abnormal Pap test, your doctor can do an HPV test that looks for high-risk types of the virus.

 Symptoms that may occur with genital warts include:

• Irritation
• Itching
• Bleeding
• Genital warts

Genital warts can vary in size and shape and may be large or even too small to be seen with the naked eye. They may appear individually or in groups and, as stated above, may look like tiny bunches of cauliflower or like flat, white areas that are difficult to see in both men & women, warts may appear in the groin, on and around the genitals, in the urethra, or the rectum or anus.

In Women:
Genital warts may appear around the anus or on the vulva, vagina, or cervix. Women are often unaware of warts inside the vagina or on the cervix until a doctor finds them.

In Men:
Genital warts may occur on the outside of the penis, on the scrotum, or around the anus. Men are often unaware they have genital warts, even when they can be seen, until a doctor identifies the warts.