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What Are the Causes of Genitial Warts?

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease that affects thousands of people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 percent of U.S. adults who are sexually active have genital warts.

  1. Identification

    • Genital warts are small bumps that grow on the genital area or near the anus. These warts are usually flesh-colored and often grow in clusters.

    Causes

    • More than 100 types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) exist, but only some HPV strains cause genital warts. Genital warts are spread through direct skin contact, usually during vaginal or anal sex.

    Treatment

    • Doctors can treat genital warts by prescribing lotions or creams. Another treatment for genital warts is having them removed through surgery.

    Time Frame

    • According to Planned Parenthood, genital warts usually appear six weeks to six months after being infected.

    Prevention

    • Using condoms during sex will lessen the chances of getting genital warts or other STDs. Females can get the HPV vaccine between the ages of 11 and 26, which helps protect against genital warts.

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