Genital warts symptoms

Rates of sexually transmitted infections are rising in Canada, and genital warts are one of the most common infections. While the signs and symptoms of genital warts seem like they’d be pretty obvious, they can be quite sneaky. It’s actually possible to catch them even when your partner has no visible signs. So how can you protect yourself if you don’t know what to look for? Let’s take a look at how genital warts spread, how you can avoid infection, and what to do if you do catch them.

Causes of genital warts

The human papillomavirus (or HPV), is responsible for all the warts we get on our bodies. There are over 100 different strains of HPV, and it’s almost impossible to keep from coming into contact with one of them at some point in our lives. Most forms of the virus don’t cause any symptoms or issues, while some result in warts on our hands or feet. And two strains — HPV-6 and HPV-11 — cause 90 percent of cases of genital warts.

While there are also 14 or more strains of HPV that typically cause cancer, none of these are the ones that cause genital warts. So although genital warts can be awkward and embarrassing, they aren’t usually lethal. We actually refer to these strains as “low risk.”

How will I know if I have genital warts?

The symptoms of genital warts are tricky and elusive. You’re only likely to notice that you have genital warts if you have a visible outbreak, but you can have a case without any symptoms. Warts can show up alone or in a group, and vary in colour: they can be skin tone, a bit darker, or white. Texture-wise they can be either smooth or bumpy (like cauliflower). They’re most easily spotted on the penis, scrotum, vulva, or buttocks. But genital warts can also show up inside the vagina, anus, mouth, or throat, meaning they might not necessarily be visible. In those cases, you might notice other symptoms, such as unusual vaginal discharge or itching. Thankfully, warts don’t usually cause discomfort, but if picked at they might become painful and can also bleed.

How do genital warts spread?

Genital warts are transmitted by direct contact. This means you can’t catch genital warts from hugging, kissing, sharing drinks, towels, baths, or cutlery or from swimming pools or toilet seats. However, you can catch them from sharing sex toys. You’re most likely to get genital warts from vaginal or anal sex (and sometimes, from oral sex) with an infected partner. This is true even if they don’t have any visible warts (although genital warts are more contagious during an outbreak). You also don’t have to have sex to pass them on: touching the affected area is enough. 

Is there a cure for genital warts?

There is currently no cure for genital warts. Some infected people have recurrent flare ups throughout their lives, while others might only have a single occurrence. Some individuals never actually develop visible genital warts themselves, but can still pass it to their sexual partners. For most people, though, the virus will eventually pass through and out of their system in anywhere from a couple of months to 2 years.

It can take months, or sometimes years for genital warts to show up after you are infected, so it’s possible to catch them and never know when you contracted them, or from whom. 

How to stay protected

Genital warts are extremely contagious. In fact, HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in North America. Because of this, it’s crucial to take precautions. You should always use condoms with new sexual partners. But be warned: condoms are not 100% effective against genital warts. The virus cannot penetrate the latex, but if there are warts elsewhere on the genitals, it can still be transmitted. They are very effective against other STIs, so don’t use this vulnerability as an excuse to skip them. If you think that you or your partner has a suspicious bump or marking, don’t have sex (or any kind of sexual contact), until you’re able to see a doctor.

If you’re a boy between the ages of nine and 26 or a girl between nine and 45, Health Canada recommends that you receive the HPV vaccine (if you haven’t already). This vaccine protects against several strains responsible for cancer, as well as those that cause most genital warts. Many provinces have free vaccination programs for school-aged children as without vaccination, seventy-five percent of sexually active Canadians end up with a sexually transmitted HPV infection at some point in their lives. 

Treatment

If you think you have genital warts or may have been exposed to them, you need to see a doctor. You should never treat genital warts with the same over-the-counter solutions used for other types of warts, or any other home remedies. Your doctor can either prescribe a topical treatment or remove them using cryotherapy or a laser.

There is no cure for genital warts, so reducing your risk of infection is your best option. Most sexually active individuals get at least one strain of sexually transmitted HPV at some point in their lives (unless they get the vaccine early enough). While genital warts can be embarrassing, the truth is they can affect everyone and anyone who is sexually active. They’re that common. Don’t be afraid to speak to a doctor; treatment options are available to help manage your symptoms.

Genital warts in men

What do genital warts look like in men and where can they be found?

Genital warts can vary in appearance depending on their host. In some men, they are white or the same colour as skin tone, while in others they show up as darker than skin tone. They can present in clusters, but sometimes appear alone as a single blemish. They aren’t always obvious — sometimes they show up as cauliflower-like growths, but they can also be smooth, raised bumps.

Genital warts on the penis are some of the easiest to spot, so males with genital warts on the penile head or their scrotum are likely to see what’s going on and get help. Genital warts can also infect the mouth, throat, and anus, however, and in those cases they might be easy to miss.

How do men get genital warts and how can you protect yourself from them?

Genital warts spread predominantly through vaginal, anal, and oral sex, but not always. Touching the affected area or sharing of personal objects such as sex toys can also expose you to risk. While condoms and dental dams do lower your risk of contracting genital warts, they don’t eliminate it completely — especially if warts are present in an area not covered by the condom. To further complicate things, you can still contract genital warts even if your partner has no visible warts. Because of these factors, your best line of defence is to use a condom and get the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine protects against multiple strains — including those that cause cancer and those responsible for genital warts.

Treating genital warts in men

While visible warts usually clear up on their own, in some cases it can take up to two years. If you don’t want to wait that long, there are multiple treatment options to speed up the healing. For at home treatment, your doctor can prescribe a topical cream. For in-office treatment, there are a few different options such as cryotherapy (freezing the warts), laser surgery, or electrodesiccation (burning and scraping the warts off). While these can all shorten the duration of the visible outbreak, there’s no cure for the underlying HPV infection. This means that once infected, you’re at risk of repeated outbreaks of genital warts throughout your life.

Male HPV rates, genital warts, and cancer

Even though genital warts don’t cause cancer, we can’t talk about one without mentioning the other. The HPV vaccine was first introduced as a way to prevent cervical cancer, so when Canada launched its vaccination campaign in 2006, it was aimed at girls. Since then, the campaign has expanded to include boys aged nine to 26, as the vaccine offers protection against some forms of anal and penile cancers as well. But because boys don’t have the same vaccination rates as girls do, the male population doesn’t have the same herd immunity that the female population does. This is especially true for men who have sex with men (MSM), as they don’t have the same protection against HPV that men who have sex exclusively with women do. Within the MSM population, men who receive anal sex, are also at increased risk of anal warts. This means that they’re more likely to have growths inside their anus as opposed to a visible area such as their scrotum. And since being infected with one strain increases the probability of infection with another, they may also have an increased risk for anal cancers.

Genital warts in women