Genital warts are caused by HPV (short for human papillomavirus). The virus spreads through sex or close sexual contact with an infected person. Treatments can reduce the number of warts or help them go away faster, but the warts often come back. And even if warts go away, HPV might still be in the body. That means the virus can spread to other people. HPV goes away in most people within about 2 years.

Treatment

• If your health care provider suggests treatment, it may include:
  • medicines put on or into the warts
  • using lasers, cold, or heat on the warts
  • surgery
• If you're uncomfortable, you might want to:
  • Place a bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the sore area for 5–10 minutes every few hours. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.
  • Sit in a small amount of cool or lukewarm water without soap or bubble bath. Use a bathtub or a small tub called a sitz bath (available at drugstores).
  • Wear cotton underwear and avoid tight or irritating clothes.
  • Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol^® or a store brand) OR ibuprofen (such as Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand) if the health care provider says it's OK.

Follow-up

• HPV can spread to partners during sex, even if you have no warts. Before having sex, tell all partners about having HPV.
• Use a condom every time you have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). This lowers the risk of spreading HPV. But HPV can still spread because condoms don't cover all areas where the virus can live.
• Follow the health care provider's instructions about getting tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Get all doses of the HPV vaccine (shot), if you haven't already. Even though you have one type of HPV infection, the HPV vaccine can protect against other types of HPV.

You have:

• warts that look infected; signs include redness, swelling, or pus
• signs of a new STI (abnormal discharge, belly pain, or pain when peeing)
• trouble peeing

How are genital warts spread? The HPV that causes genital warts usually spreads through vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It also can spread by touching the area near the genitals. After a person is infected, warts may show up within weeks or years. This makes it hard to know exactly when someone was infected. Not everyone with HPV gets warts. Even without warts, an infected person can spread the virus to others.

When am I no longer contagious? It's hard to know exactly when someone with HPV is no longer contagious. Usually, the HPV is gone from the body within 2 years of getting infected. In some people, the virus stays longer.

Do genital warts increase the risk of cancer? The type of HPV that causes genital warts usually does not lead to cancer. But other types of HPV do increase the risk of cancer, so it's very important to get all doses of the HPV vaccine.

How can I avoid getting another STI? The best way to avoid an STI is not to have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal). To lower the chances of another infection if you do have sex:

• Use a condom every time you have sex (vaginal, oral, or anal).
• Have only one partner, who has been tested and does not have an STI. That partner should not have sex with other people.
• Get the HPV vaccine.