Genital
Warts are contracted by having sex with an infected partner.
Even just close genital contact is enough to spread the
condition. Genital warts are normally painless but may
be itchy, although they may become painful during sexual
intercourse depending on the location of the warts.
Genital
warts can appear on the skin anywhere in the genital area
as white or flesh-coloured, smooth, small bumps, or larger,
fleshy, cauliflower-like lumps.
Both
men and women are equally at risk of developing genital
warts. In rare cases adults and children can be infected
indirectly, for instance through the use of an infected
towel. Babies can also be infected during delivery (see
genital warts during pregnancy).
Not
everyone infected with HPV will develop genital warts.
Some will be infected with a strain that does not produce
warts, or they will remain asymptomatic (i.e. no warts
will appear) even though the virus is present in their
skin.
If
you have a partner you are sexually active with, there
is a strong possibility they have already contracted the
HPV virus from you. However only 50% of people who have
HPV develop genital warts.
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