Genital Warts Symptoms

"so you want to know what the symptoms are for genital warts"

If symptoms of genital warts do appear then the infected person may notice a single spot or a cluster of spots within their genitalia. Genital warts have an irregular shape and can vary in shape and size from small red/white spots to large cauliflower-shaped lumps (see genital warts pictures), which can spread without treatment. Genital warts are normally painless but may be itchy, although they may become painful during sexual intercourse depending on the location of the warts.

In men, genital warts often occur just under the foreskin, but can be anywhere on the penis, on the scrotum or in the groin. Homosexual men may also get infected in the anus and rectum.

In women, genital warts usually occur around the opening of the vagina (vulva), but can occur in the folds of skin alongside the vaginal opening, to the womb, or around the anus. If a woman has warts within her vagina it may led to slight bleeding, or on very rare occasions an unusual colored discharge can appear from the vagina.
In some cases, genital warts can develop in the mouth or throat due to them having had oral sex with an infected person

Once someone contracts the HPV virus, a quiet period of months to years can occur.
Sometimes several years pass without any symptoms. However even without showing any symptoms it still leaves a healthy partner vulnerable to becoming infected during sexual activity. They’re not something you want to risk infecting others with and need to be treated as they are very contagious! (see genital warts facts).

If a person suspects that they may have been exposed to the HPV virus, but doesn't yet have any symptoms, their doctor can take a swab to test for strains of the virus (available in most countries). Woman can get this performed alongside a cervical Pap smear test (see vaginal warts).

Conditions Confused With Genital Warts

People can confuse other skin problems with genital warts due to them discovering lumps or bumps on their genitals. Here are the most common condictions which are confused with genital warts, but are perfectly normal and non-infectious condictions.

Conditions that may be confused with genital warts include:

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Genital Herpes

is a very common sexual transmitted infection (STI). 1 in 4 adults will get herpes. It is spread by skin to skin contact.

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Skin Tags

tend to develop usually in adulthood. The are harmless and 46% of the population will develop at least one skin tag in their lifetime. For more information click here.

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Pearly Penile Papules

are small white or skin-coloured bumps that, when numerous, appear in a ring around the edge of the head of the penis. More rarely, similar papules may be found on the vulva.

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Sebaceous Glands (Fordyce Spots)

are hard white, yellowish or skin-coloured little bumps that may be found all over the skin of the penis and scrotum in men, and the vulva in women. Sebaceous glands produce a substance which secrete an oily/waxy matter, called sebum. Sebum ubricates the skin and hair of animals.

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Angiokeratomas

develop as bright red or purple spots that look a little like blood blisters.

Any doubt about lumps and bumps on the genitals can usually be resolved by a quick visit to a doctor or sexual health clinic to determine wheather you have genital warts or not.

Now you know the symptoms of genital warts we hope you now have a better understanding of how you can catch genital warts and can now take messures to stop contracting the hpv virus or look at buying a treatment to suppress it.