Genital Warts

What Are Genital Warts?

Genital warts are small bumps or lumps that appear on or around your genitals. They're caused by certain types of HPV (human papillomavirus)—the same virus linked to cervical cancer, but different strains. The good news? They're not cancer, they don't usually cause serious health problems, and they're very treatable. Many people get them and clear them without any lasting impact.

How Do You Get Them?

Genital warts spread through skin-to-skin sexual contact with someone who has HPV. You can get them from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It's also possible (though rare) to pass them to a baby during birth. You can have HPV for months or years without developing warts, or you might never develop them at all—everyone's immune system handles it differently.

Symptoms

• Small bumps or lumps on the penis, vulva, anus, or surrounding areas
• Warts can be flesh-colored, pink, or slightly darker
• They can appear alone or in clusters
• Possible itching, bleeding, or discomfort during sex
• Many people have no symptoms at all—they might only discover warts during a check-up
• Warts can take weeks to months to appear after infection

Testing & Diagnosis

A doctor or sexual health nurse can usually diagnose genital warts by visual inspection. They're pretty distinctive. If there's any doubt, they might do a biopsy or HPV test to confirm.

Irish clinics offering diagnosis:

• Your GP (free)
• Sexual Health Clinics (free on the HSE)
• Dermatology services (for stubborn cases)

Treatment

There's no cure for HPV itself, but warts can be removed. You've got several options depending on what works for you and your clinician's recommendation.

Treatment options include:

• Topical treatments (creams or liquids) that you apply at home—usually work over weeks to months
• Cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen)—quick and effective, done at a clinic
• Laser treatment or electrocautery—for larger or stubborn warts
• Surgical removal—for persistent cases

Warts sometimes come back after treatment because the HPV is still in your system, but this gets less common over time as your immune system clears the virus. Most people are wart-free within 1-2 years, even without treatment.

HPV & Cervical Cancer

If you have a cervix, you're probably worrying about cancer. Here's the reality: most genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV types that don't cause cancer. Even if you have a higher-risk strain, cervical screening catches any abnormal cells early. The HPV vaccine also protects against the high-risk types. Regular cervical screening is your best protection.

Prevention

• HPV vaccination—available free for people under 25 on the HSE, highly effective at preventing most genital warts
• Condoms—reduce (but don't eliminate) risk of transmission
• Regular sexual health checks if you're sexually active
• Cervical screening (if you have a cervix)—catches problems early

Support & Resources

Genital warts are super common—you're far from alone. Irish sexual health clinics see them all the time and can walk you through your options without judgment. If you're worried about telling a partner, many clinics offer partner notification services.