Genital warts how fast they grow

For the vaccine to work best, all shots in the series must be given. Home treatments may not cure HPV infection and genital warts. But a doctor may prescribe medicine that you can use at home, such as podofilox lotion or gel or imiquimod cream. These products are not intended for the genital area and may cause serious burning.

It is important to remember that most infections are minor, without serious complications. Some cases of HPV infection and genital warts disappear without treatment, although human papillomavirus HPV may still be present in your body's cells.

Medicine may be used to destroy bothersome genital warts, relieve your symptoms, and reduce the amount of area affected by warts, particularly when the warts are:.

Topical medicine often is the first treatment. For safety, a doctor will apply the topical medicines that could damage the skin around the warts. You can apply other medicines at home. If warts return after one course of treatment with topical medicine, they are treated again only if there are clear reasons for retreatment.

Medicines are not used to treat abnormal cell changes found on a Pap test. Imiquimod and podofilox are typically the most effective medicine options that can be applied at home. Read the instructions carefully before using these medicines. Treatment for pregnant women includes trichloroacetic acid TCA , cryotherapy, laser therapy, loop electrosurgical excision procedure LEEP , and surgical removal by electrocautery or excision.

Warts on the vulva or penis that do not go away on their own or after treatment often are biopsied to rule out precancerous or cancerous conditions. Removing genital warts does not cure an HPV infection. Warts may go away with topical treatment, but they may return, because HPV may still be in the body's cells. You may have surgery to remove genital warts if they are widespread and medicine or freezing cryotherapy fails to remove them.

If you have a high-risk type of HPV that causes an abnormal Pap test, your doctor may recommend certain types of surgery. For more information about surgical methods to treat abnormal cell changes, see the topic Abnormal Pap Test. Surgical choices for pregnant women with genital warts include electrocautery, surgical excision, loop electrosurgical excision LEEP , and laser surgery. The success of surgery is related to the number of warts present.

The success rate is higher and additional treatments are less likely to be required when surgery is done on fewer and smaller warts. But surgery is less likely to be needed for a few small areas of warts. Kiley MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. Top of the page. Genital Warts Human Papillomavirus.

Topic Overview Is this topic for you? If you are looking for information about cervical cell changes or cervical cancer, see: Abnormal Pap Test. Cervical Cancer. What is human papillomavirus HPV? What are genital warts? What causes HPV and genital warts?

What are the symptoms? How are HPV and genital warts diagnosed? Sometimes the doctor takes a sample of tissue from the wart for testing. How are they treated? There is no cure for HPV, but the symptoms can be treated. Can HPV and genital warts be prevented? Use latex condoms. Latex condoms may help reduce the risk of spreading genital warts, but they do not protect the entire genital area against skin-to-skin contact. Before you have sex with someone, talk to them about STIs. Find out whether he or she is at risk for them.

Remember that a person can be infected without knowing it. If you have symptoms of an STI, don't have sex. Do not have sex with anyone who has symptoms or who may have been exposed to an STI. Having several sex partners increases your risk for infection. Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems.

Cause HPV infection is caused by a virus. How the infection is spread transmission HPV is spread by direct contact. The virus can be spread to or from the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat during sexual activities. But warts in the mouth or throat are extremely rare. Latex condoms can lower your risk of getting genital warts. After the infection occurs, it may spread to other areas of the genitals or to the anal area. You can spread the virus even if you do not have any symptoms of infection or any visible warts.

There is a small chance that a pregnant woman can pass the virus to her baby. Children can get genital warts from sexual abuse. Symptoms Human papillomavirus HPV infection Infection with the human papillomavirus HPV usually does not cause any symptoms and does not always produce visible genital warts. Symptoms that may occur with genital warts include: Irritation. Genital warts Genital warts can be different sizes and shapes. They may be large, or they may be too small to be seen with the naked eye.

They may appear individually or in groups. Warts may look like tiny bunches of cauliflower or like flat, white areas that are very difficult to see.

In women and men, warts may appear in the groin, on and around the genitals, in the urethra , or in the rectum or anus. In women : Genital warts may appear around the anus or on the vulva , vagina, or cervix. Women are often unaware of warts inside the vagina or on the cervix until a doctor finds them.

In men : Genital warts may occur on the outside of the penis, on the scrotum , or around the anus. Men are often unaware they have genital warts, even when they can be seen, until the warts are identified by a doctor. Symptoms of genital warts may be similar to those of other conditions.

Common HPV types 6 and 11 produce visible warts. These warts may go away on their own, stay the same, or increase in number. Other HPV types, such as 16 and 18, do not produce visible genital warts. These types, which may be found with a Pap test , are linked to precancerous cervical cell changes and cervical cancer.

HPV infection and cervical cell changes In women, most precancerous or cancerous cell changes associated with HPV infection occur on the cervix. HPV infection and anal and penile cancer Among people who receive anal sex, HPV infection of the anal canal is associated with an increased risk of anal cancer.

HPV infection during pregnancy The presence of HPV and abnormal cell changes does not affect the outcome of the pregnancy. What Increases Your Risk Things that increase a person's risk for getting a sexually transmitted infection, such as HPV and genital warts, include: Having multiple sex partners.

Having high-risk partner s partner has multiple sex partners or HPV-infected sex partners. Having unprotected sexual contact not using latex condoms. Having an impaired immune system. When should you call your doctor? Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: Sores, bumps, rashes, blisters, or warts on or around your genitals or anus Burning, pain, or severe itching while urinating For women , an abnormal vaginal discharge that smells bad For men , an abnormal discharge from your penis Call your doctor if you suspect you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection STI.

Avoid sexual contact until you have been examined by a doctor. Children A child can get genital warts in several ways. Watchful waiting A doctor should evaluate any warts or other symptoms that suggest infection with the human papillomavirus HPV or another sexually transmitted infection STI.

The length of the watchful waiting period is based on: The severity of your symptoms. The progression of the problem if not treated. The risks and benefits of waiting. Your age and medical history.

Who to see In general, your family doctor or any of the following health professionals can determine whether you have genital warts: Nurse practitioner Physician assistant Internist Treatment may require a specialist, such as a: Gynecologist. Exams and Tests A doctor usually can diagnose visible genital warts using your medical history and a physical exam. How do you know? Did your partner tell you?

What are your symptoms? If you have discharge from the vagina or penis, it is important to note any smell or color. Did you use latex condoms to protect against STIs? Which sexual behaviors do you or your partner engage in, including high-risk behaviors such as sex with multiple partners? Have you had an STI in the past? How was it treated? Have you ever had an abnormal Pap test for women?

For women After your doctor takes your medical history, you will have a gynecological exam, which usually includes a Pap test. For men After the medical history, you will have a physical exam for genital warts. Please tell your doctor if there is any chance you may be pregnant.

The doctor may want to freeze the warts or remove them surgically. The phone number is Wear gloves when changing diapers or bathing children to keep from spreading the HPV infection to their skin. If a doctor prescribes TCA for the children, apply the medicine to the warts again each time you clean the diaper area, and after you bathe them.

Always wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after applying the medicine, diapering, or changing their clothes.

Monday through Friday. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your doctor or nurse, or call the Adolescent Health Center at Genital Warts PDF. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Treating Genital Warts The specialty of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology expertly cares for children with genital warts.

Request an Appointment. Genital warts are caused by certain types of sexually transmitted HPV. There are more than 40 HPV types that can affect the genital area of women and men.

But more than 90 percent of genital warts are caused by just two types: HPV 6 and One percent of all sexually active women and men get genital warts every year. We see them in everyone — women who are pregnant, young adults exploring their sexuality, older women and men. Typically, you get warts within one to four months of being infected with HPV.

But the virus can be kept in check by the immune system for longer than that. Does everyone exposed to HPV 6 and 11 get warts? Can HPV warts surface at any time in your life — even years after exposure? How can sexually active individuals avoid getting HPV warts? Also, interestingly, HPV infects rapidly dividing cells. Does the number of sex partners a person has over a lifetime increase the risk of HPV warts?

The more sex partners you have, the more likely you are to have different types of HPV infection as well. Limiting the number of partners and using condoms are very important to reducing your risk. Are HPV warts spread only through genital contact? No, you can spread the virus from any moist source to another. The same type of warts that develop on the genitals can also grow in the mouth and throat and even in the insides of the eyelids. We have to be quite frank about sexual practices today.

Can HPV warts lead to cervical cancer? The two types of HPV that cause most genital warts — types 6 and 11 — do not cause cancer. However, some types of HPV that are associated with cancer have been found in genital warts. Genital warts may cause some physical discomfort, such as burning and itching, or even bleeding in an intimate situation. The various treatments to remove genital warts can also cause pain and irritation and can be expensive, depending on what type of treatment you use and what kind of health insurance coverage you have.

No, but we have more statistics on women because doctors tend to see women much more routinely.