Anogenital Warts

Anogenital warts are a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
They are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)
They are small painless lumps/bumps that grow on the skin around the penis, vulva, vagina and anus
They can be treated with medications (creams or liquids), freezing or surgery

By having close skin contact with someone who has warts, including vaginal, anal or oral sex
Many people carry HPV without any symptoms, and it may take years for them to develop
Anyone can have warts – you do not need to have had a lot of partners
If you are pregnant, warts may appear or re-appear as your immune system changes
Although some strains of HPV can cause cancer, these are not the same strains that cause warts

Painless growths or lumps on the skin around the penis, vulva, testicles or anus
Pain, itching or bleeding from your genitals or anus
A change in the direction of your pee (urine)
Anal irritation, pain or discharge

The use of condoms for vaginal and anal sex and condoms or dental dams for oral sex can help to prevent transmission by reducing skin-to-skin contact
The HPV vaccination can help prevent your risk of catching HPV and developing warts. It is given free of charge to certain groups of people in the UK:
- All girls and boys aged 12–13 in England & Wales are offered vaccination at school
- Young people who miss their school HPV vaccination (until their 25th birthday)
- Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) under 45 years of age
- Other individuals with similar risk profiles to GBMSM, including some transgender people, sex workers and people living with HIV
Speak to your doctor or nurse if you think you may be eligible for free HPV vaccinationTrans women who have sex with men under 45 years of age

You should see a doctor or nurse if:

If you have symptoms, you should attend a sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinic.

A doctor or nurse will examine the skin around your genitals and anus
There is not test for anogenital warts, most cases can be diagnosed by examination alone
If you have a vagina, a speculum examination may be performed to check for warts inside the vaginal canal
If you have symptoms of anal warts, a small hollow tube (proctoscope) may be used to check for warts inside the back passage (rectum)
Rarely, a sample of tissue may need to be taken (a biopsy) and sent to the lab to confirm the diagnosis

The majority of warts clear up on their own, normally within 18 months
There is no cure for anogenital warts
There are several treatments available that can help with the symptoms and reduce their duration:
- Creams such as podophyllotoxin or imiquimod
- Freezing (also known as cryotherapy)
- Surgical removal by cutting, burning or using laser
You should use condoms to reduce the chance of passing the infection on to other partners
If you are a smoker, cutting down or quitting can improve your response to treatment
Warts can sometimes come back, even if you have had treatment before. This can happen years after the warts first appeared

Although most warts will eventually clear up on their own, you should still see a doctor or nurse
Some warts will get bigger and multiply, increasing the chance you will pass them on to other partners

Written by Dr David Rook and Dr Paula Briggs
Reviewed and edited by Dr David Rook
Last updated: June 2025 by Dr David Rook

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