WHAT ARE GENITAL WARTS?
Genital warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital or anal area.
Genital warts are very common. They are the third most common type of STI falling just short of chlamydia. Genital warts are the result of a viral skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They are usually painless and do not pose a serious threat to health. However, they can appear unsightly and cause psychological distress.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is not a single virus, but a family of over 100 different strains of viruses. Most cases of infection with HPV cause no visible symptoms. Around 90% of all cases of genital warts are caused by two strains of the virus, type 6 and type 11. Other strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer.