HPV and genital warts: what it is, treatment and what to tell your partner
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection: most sexually active people will have it at some point. In most cases it clears up on its own without causing problems, but some types cause genital warts (condylomas) and others can cause cancer if the infection persists for years. There is a very effective vaccine.
What is HPV?
There are more than 200 types of HPV, and about 40 can infect the genital and anal area. They are divided into:
- Low-risk types, such as 6 and 11, which cause more than 90% of genital warts.
- High-risk types, such as 16 and 18, which, if they persist, can cause cancer of the cervix, anus, vulva, vagina, penis or throat.
About 9 out of 10 infections clear up on their own within one or two years thanks to the immune system.
Symptoms of HPV and genital warts
Most infections cause no symptoms at all. Low-risk types can cause genital warts: soft, skin-colored or pink growths, flat or raised, sometimes shaped like a cauliflower, on the genitals, anus or groin. They usually appear weeks or months after contact and do not usually hurt, although they can itch. High-risk types cause no symptoms until they have caused advanced lesions, which is why screening is so important.
How is HPV spread?
It spreads through skin-to-skin contact in the genital area during vaginal, anal or oral sex, and by sharing sex toys. Condoms lower the risk, but do not fully protect, because the virus can be in areas they do not cover. It can be passed on even when there are no visible warts.
Diagnosis and screening
Genital warts are diagnosed with a visual examination. High-risk HPV in the cervix is detected with the Pap test and the HPV test of the screening program, which women aged 25 to 65 should attend according to local health recommendations. For men there is no routine HPV test; an anal check may be considered for some higher-risk groups.
Treatment of HPV and genital warts
There is no treatment that gets rid of the virus, but there is treatment for its effects:
- Genital warts: treated with creams or solutions (such as imiquimod or podofilox), freezing (cryotherapy), laser or surgery. They can come back, especially in the first few months.
- Precancerous lesions: those found by screening are treated before they turn into cancer.
Do not use products for common warts on the genital area.
Do you need to tell your partner?
With HPV, partners are not notified as with other STIs, because it is very common, there is no test for men and it is impossible to know who passed it on. Even so, it is a good idea to tell your partner:
- If you have warts, so they can get checked and so you use condoms until the warts are gone.
- If your partner is a woman, so she attends her cervical screening.
- So they can consider getting vaccinated if it is recommended for them.
When you tell them, explain that it is a very common infection and that steady partners usually share the virus.
If you have genital warts and cannot talk to a casual partner or an ex, you can send them an anonymous notice with STI notice so they get checked.
Who should you notify?
There is no set period. It is advisable to tell your current partner and, if you have been diagnosed with genital warts, your partners from the last few months so they can get checked.
If you have been told you might have HPV or genital warts
Check your genitals and anal area for warts and, if you see any, see your doctor. If you are a woman, follow the cervical screening schedule that applies to you. If you have not been vaccinated, ask whether you can be. Men without symptoms are not tested for HPV.
Vaccine and prevention
The HPV vaccine protects against the types that cause most cancers and genital warts, and it works best if given before becoming sexually active. Condoms lower the risk of infection and screening catches lesions in time.
Frequently asked questions about HPV
Does having HPV mean my partner cheated on me?
No. The virus can stay in the body for years without causing symptoms, so it is very hard to know when or from whom it was caught.
Can I get vaccinated if I already have HPV?
It depends on your age and situation; ask your doctor. The vaccine does not clear an infection you already have, but it can protect you against other types of the virus.
Other sexually transmitted infections
Syphilis · Gonorrhea · Genital herpes · HIV · Pubic lice (crabs) · Chlamydia · Yeast infection (candidiasis) · Hepatitis A, B and C · Trichomoniasis · Scabies · Mpox (monkeypox)
Sources: MedlinePlus: genital warts; CDC: anogenital warts treatment guidelines.Health information updated in October 2026. It does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.