What are genital warts? Genital warts are flesh-colored or
grayish bumps caused by the human papilloma virus, or HPV, that
occur in the genital area. They can be big or small, flat or
raised, and solitary or clustered. In men, they can be found on
the scrotum or penis; in women, they can appear on the cervix,
in the vagina, or on the vulva. They can also occur near or
inside the anus and urethra. Sexual Health Spotlight Genital
warts can appear weeks to months after an infection, or may not
appear despite an infection with the human papilloma virus. They
can also be spread by a partner who has no symptoms.
Furthermore, more than 100 types of human papilloma virus exist,
including many types that do not infect the genital area or
produce warts. Genital human papilloma virus is the most common
sexually transmitted infection, affecting at least 50% of all
sexually active adults in their lifetimes (Source: CDC).
Although some human papilloma virus types increase the risk of
developing cervical, penile or anal can