Genital warts

How can you get genital warts?

Warts on your penis or anus are caused by a wart virus: HPV. There are different types of HPV. One of them can cause genital warts. In most cases, this virus is not noticeable as it doesn’t always give warts.

• Almost everyone in the Netherlands has had the virus. A small portion of them get genital warts.
• You can transmit the virus if you have warts, but also if you don't have warts. The chance is much higher if you have warts.

You get warts if you have sex with someone who is infected by the wart virus. The chances of getting them are higher if someone you have sex with has warts. That can happen in the following ways:

• If the penis and anus touch each other
• If your fingers touch the skin around the penis or anus
• If you share a towel with someone

You can get them and pass them on without noticing. Do you use a condom when you have sex? Then the chances of getting them are lower. But a condom does not offer 100% protection against warts.

What do genital warts look like?

This is how you can recognize genital warts:

• Most of the time you can see them yourself on your penis or anus
• They can be pink, grey-white or brown (people with a darker skin get brown warts)
• Sometimes you can’t see them. That means they are inside your anus or urethra
• You can have more than one. They are usually found in small groups, close to each other
• Sometimes you only have one or two

Symptoms you could notice on your penis or anus:

• Itchiness
• Pain

Feeling discomfort

You might feel discomfort if you have genital warts. Maybe you don’t like the idea that they are there. Or you feel ashamed when you want to have sex with someone. Keep this in mind: genital warts are very common and they always heal on their own, although that may take a while.

Other symptoms?

Do you have other symptoms? They could be caused by something else. So it’s important to go to your GP or to the GGD. Don’t wait too long and make an appointment.

Check out the symptoms of other STDs

Treating genital warts

You don’t need to get treated for genital warts. They heal on their own. Are they really bothering you? If so, you can get medication for it (a lotion). In some cases, the doctor can lazer, cauterize (burn), cut off or remove them with a liquid that destroys them. 

Sometimes the medication doesn’t work well, and the warts won’t heal. If so, they will heal later on their own. This can take a long time, in some cases even 2 years.

After healing, warts can come back again.

Preventing genital warts

You can’t completely prevent getting or passing on warts. Luckily, genital warts are not dangerous. You can reduce your chances:

• Use a condom if you have sex with more than one person
  • Do you have sex with 1 person more often? Then a condom barely protects against genital warts. There is a big chance you give the virus to the other person.
  • Are you not sure what to do? Talk to eachother about it. If you want to use a condom or not.
  • A condom does protect well against other STDs. 
• Do not touch warts. You can pass them on to others even with your fingers
• Did you touch warts? Wash your hands with soap and water
• You can get vaccinated against the virus that cause genital warts. This vaccine is not free. Your GP can tell you more about this.