Genital Wart Symptoms or What Genital Warts Look Like



Genital warts symptoms, or human papilloma virus symptoms, make them easy to diagnose. The most well-known symptoms of genital human papilloma virus infection are genital warts, also known as condyloma acuminata or venereal warts. Below are a few genital warts pictures that show symptoms.

Genital Warts Symptoms


Picture showing early symptoms of genital warts around the mouth


Genital warts hpv infection leads to one of two possibilities:
  1. The genital area remains completely normal (sub clinical hpv).
Genital warts are usually visible to the naked eye, but genital warts can be tiny enough to be invisible. This degree of infection is known as a sub-clinical human papilloma virus infection. A person with sub-clinical HPV doesn't realize they have the infection so probably has no reason to get diagnosed.

Natural genital warts treatment

Though unlikely, this may lead to abnormal (precancerous) changes in the cervix, vulva, penis and anus without the infected person being aware of it. In such cases, genital warts can be found by applying vinegar, which makes them visible. However, this is often irritating to the soft genital skin.
  1. Genital warts develop in the genital area.
In the second scenario, symptoms of genital warts appear in the form of visible genital warts in the genital area. The genital area that shows up with genital warts symptoms are:

In females

  • Vagina - May appear in or around.
  • Anus - May appear in or around.
  • Cervix - May appear in or around.
  • Groin - The genital area meeting the inner thigh can have warts.
  • Vulva - May appear on the vaginal lips on the outside or inside.

In males

  • Penis - May appear on the tip of the penis or shaft.
  • Scrotum - Growth on the soft balls at the end of penis.
  • Anus - In or around.
  • Groin - The genital area meeting the inner thigh can have wart growths.

Genital warts appear on moist surfaces, such as the penis as well as the entrance to the vagina and rectum. The moist environment of the genitals most suits the genital warts HPV. However, genital warts are not always restricted to the genital area. In some infrequent cases, they may also develop in the mouth or throat related to oral sex activity.

More clear Genital Warts Symptoms
Pictures of Genital Warts Symptoms showing what genital warts look like in early stages.

Image showing what genital warts look like in the mouth on the tongue

Genital warts are very contagious and are spread by sexual contact of any kind (oral, genital, or anal sex) with an infected partner. The genital warts virus penetrates the skin through microscopic cuts in the genital area, which develop during sexual activity.

What do genital warts look like?

A genital wart looks like an abnormal local growth on the outer layer of the skin (see genital warts pictures).

Basically, genital warts look like growths or bumps that may be flat or, in some cases, raised. Genital warts may also be pointed. The color of genital warts may look like whitish, pink, flesh-colored or slightly dark.

They are soft and moist. Genital warts may be rough and appear as finger-like projections. The warts can be single or in multiple clusters. Genital warts may look like small or large cauliflower shaped eruptions. The size of genital warts varies. Some sufferers have small-size genital warts, but some grow into larger warts. Genital warts symptoms may go unnoticed if the small genital warts are small, flesh-colored and hidden in the pubic hair.

Picture showing what genital warts look like in early stages.

Pictures of early stage genital warts symptoms on the hip

As a rough estimate, a wart may measure from 1-2 millimeters in diameter, but clusters may grow up to 4 inches in diameter in the absence of any genital wart removal treatment.

As such, a genital wart looks like a fleshy abnormal elevation of the skin in the genital area, appearing somewhat like warts found on other body parts, such as common warts, and planter warts.

Normally, warts don't cause any sort of itching or burning. But some people experience mild itching, tenderness and burning in the genital area (penis, scrotum, anal area, or vulva). Although no pain is usually associated with the symptoms of genital warts, some cases may experience pain.

Two-thirds of people who have had sexual contact with someone who has genital warts HPV develop symptoms. The incubation period for the development of genital warts symptoms (genital warts) can vary from 2-3 months to several years.



Picture of genital wart in early stages of its development


Foul odor is a symptom that the genital warts are infected, which can result in other complications.

According to clinical findings:

  • Half of the females who have genital warts also have a wart inside the vagina known as a vaginal wart. Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy may be due to vaginal warts.
  • There may be vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse which is not associated with a menstrual period.
  • Males with genital warts have a 20% chance of having sub-clinical urethral lesions.

Genital warts confirm the presence of the human papilloma virus infection so a laboratory test is not necessary. However, no diagnostic test is currently available to accurately establish whether or not a man is harboring the HPV infection. In female cases, infection can be determined with Pap Smear Test for Hpv even though the test is not primarily designed for HPV detection.

There are variations within each individual in regards to what genital warts look like or in their related symptoms.

Genital warts symptoms need to be treated as soon as possible because they can interfere with sexual activity and grow larger in some individuals. More importantly, genital warts are highly contagious. Any type of sexual contact will easily transmit the infection to a sterile person and cause genital warts symptoms as previously mentioned.








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