Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

[1] They may be flat or project out from the surface of the skin, and their color may vary; brownish, white, pale yellow, pinkish-red, or gray.

[5] It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during oral, manual, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected partner.

[13] They can be as small as 1–5 mm in diameter, but can also grow or spread into large masses in the genital or anal area.

Although they are usually without other physical symptoms, an outbreak of genital warts may cause psychological distress, such as anxiety, in some people.

[16] Other studies suggest that condoms are not effective at preventing transmission of the low-risk HPV variants that cause genital warts.

The presence of wart-like lesions on the genitals of young children has been suggested as an indicator of sexual abuse.

[19] It has also been reported from sharing of swimsuits, underwear, or bath towels, and from non-sexual touching during routine care such as diapering.

[4] Some practitioners use an acetic acid solution to identify smaller warts ("subclinical lesions"), but this practice is controversial.

[15] Because a diagnosis made with acetic acid will not meaningfully affect the course of the disease, and cannot be verified by a more specific test, a 2007 UK guideline advises against its use.

[19] HPV vaccines have excellent safety profiles and are highly efficacious, or have met immunobridging standards.

[22] : 668  They prevent genital warts, with the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines providing virtually complete protection.

The vaccine is preventive, not therapeutic, and must be given before exposure to the virus type to be effective, ideally before the beginning of sexual activity.

[25] Cervarix had been used routinely in young females from its introduction in 2008, but was only effective against the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, neither of which typically causes warts.

[16] Other studies suggest that condoms are not effective at preventing transmission of the low-risk HPV variants that cause genital warts.

[15] There is no evidence to suggest that removing visible warts reduces transmission of the underlying HPV infection.

[17] A healthcare practitioner may offer one of several ways to treat warts, depending on their number, sizes, locations, or other factors.

Genital HPV infections have an estimated prevalence in the US of 10–20% and clinical manifestations in 1% of the sexually active adult population.

However, studies using sensitive DNA techniques have shown that through immunological response, the virus can either be cleared or suppressed to levels below what polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests can measure.