Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 March 2010 22:01

Genital Warts Symptoms

Most people will not develop symptoms (visible warts) and the virus will go away on its own. This means that you may not know whether you or your partner has genital warts.

The HPV infection has a long incubation period. This means it may take several months to years before the warts appear in the genital area, putting you at risk if your partner is not aware of the infection. In women, the warts may form in the cervix and go unnoticed.

• Appearance of genital warts: Genital warts have a very variable appearance. They can be flat with stalks or rough with cauliflower-like growth. They can appear as tiny single wart (1millimeter, the size of your ball point pen) or grow in clusters.

• Locationof genital warts: In men, the warts are often seen on the tip or shaft of the penis and / or underneath the foreskin. At times they may appear in the urethra and the area around the rectum. In women, the warts can appear in the vagina, on the vulva, by the urethra, and also in and around the rectum.

• Pain: Genital warts are usually painless, but they may be itchy and cause a burning sensation.

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Further Complications of Genital Warts

Cancer

• Females: Risk of malignancy of the cervix, vulva and anus.

• Males: Risk of malignancy of the penis and anus.

Pregnancy

• Enlarged warts may cause difficulty in urination.

• Warts in the vagina inhibit stretching of the vaginal tissue prolonging childbirth.

• Your baby may develop warts in his or her throat. An emergency surgery may be needed to prevent obstruction of the airway.