Genital warts are an infection of the skin around the genital and anal area, and can spread during vaginal or anal sex, and by sharing sex toys. However, you don’t need to have penetrative sex to pass it on. The virus is spread by skin-to-skin contact.

Most people will not develop visible warts and the virus will go away on its own, so you may not even know that you have them. If warts do appear, this happens normally between 2 weeks and several months or longer after coming into contact with the virus.
You might notice small, fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes which may appear anywhere in or on the genital/anal area. Warts are not normally painful.

Genital warts can be found:

In Women
  • On the vulva (the lips around the opening to the vagina) and upper thighs, in the vagina and on or inside the anus.
In Men
  • On the penis, scrotum, urethra (tube which urine passes through) and the upper thighs, and on or inside the anus.

Return to the STIs page