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Beginning Stages of Genital Warts

According to the National Institutes of Health, genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease. They are triggered by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Many people don't even realize that they have been infected, as the virus doesn't show any signs until the warts develop. If you believe you may have been exposed to the HPV, you can watch for the early stages of wart growth. You can also be tested by your doctor.

  1. Infection

    • The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) says that genital warts are extremely contagious. They can be passed among partners during genital and anal sex and, less commonly, through oral sex. Two-thirds of the people who have intimate contact with an infected partner will be infected with the HPV.

    Time Frame

    • Once you are infected with the HPV, you will most likely have an outbreak of genital warts within three months. The appearance of these growths is the earliest sign of an HPV infection. However, the NIAID warns that you can be infected without showing any outward symptoms. You may not realize that you have HPV, but you can still spread it to uninfected sex partners. The NIAID says that up to half of all women who have HPV do not show any symptoms.

    Signs

    • The earliest sign of an HPV infection is the development of genital warts. The NIAID says that warts are more common in women. They usually appear both outside and inside of the vagina. They can also grow around the anus and on the cervix. In men, they usually show up on the tip of the penis. Less commonly, they might grow on the penis shaft or anal area. In rare cases, they can grow in the throat or mouth.

    Appearance

    • The National Institutes of Health says that you can recognize genital warts in their early stages by watching for small flesh-color or pink bumps. They are soft and moist to the touch. You can get a single wart, or you might get multiple-wart clusters.

    Identification

    • Even if you do not show any outward signs, your doctor may be able to detect your genital warts in their beginning stages. If you suspect that you might be infected, you can get a test for HPV DNA. If the warts are present but difficult to see, your doctor can apply acetic acid to possibly affected areas. This makes the warts more visible by causing them to to whiten.

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