Genital Warts (HPV)
Genital warts are soft, flesh-coloured growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), treatable with creams, freezing or removal, and largely preventable by vaccination.
Symptoms
- Soft, flesh-coloured or slightly darker lumps on the genitals or around the anus
- Single warts or clusters with a cauliflower-like surface
- Usually painless, sometimes itchy
- May appear weeks to months after exposure
Causes and how it spreads
Genital warts are caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus, mainly types 6 and 11, spread through skin-to-skin sexual contact. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus; most sexually active people meet it at some point, and most infections clear on their own without ever causing warts.
How PVT tests for it
Warts are usually diagnosed by examination; their appearance is characteristic. Your doctor will also assess anything atypical and can arrange further testing where a lesion does not look like a simple wart.
Treatment
Options include prescribed creams applied at home, cryotherapy (freezing) at the practice, or removal of stubborn warts. Treatment removes visible warts; the underlying virus usually clears on its own over time. The HPV vaccine prevents the strains that cause most warts and most cervical cancers, and is worth discussing even after a wart diagnosis.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor about any new lump on the genitals or anus, both to confirm it is a wart and to rule out other causes. Come in too if warts are spreading, bleeding or bothering you, or to discuss HPV vaccination.
Medically reviewed by Dr D. Moodley [DOCTOR_NAME_PLACEHOLDER], HPCSA [HPCSA_NUMBER_PLACEHOLDER]. Last reviewed 1 July 2026.
Questions about Genital Warts (HPV)
No. The HPV strains that cause visible warts, mainly types 6 and 11, are not the strains linked to cervical and other cancers. Having warts does not mean you carry a high-risk strain, although routine cervical screening remains important for all women.
They can, because treatment removes the visible wart while the virus may persist in the skin for a while. Recurrences are common in the first months and usually settle as your immune system clears the virus. Repeat treatment is straightforward.
Often yes. The vaccine covers several strains, and it is unlikely you have met all of them. It cannot treat existing warts, but it can protect you against the strains you have not yet encountered, including high-risk cancer-linked types.
Typically between three weeks and eight months, which makes it hard to say which partner they came from. Appearing now does not necessarily mean recent infidelity in a relationship, and your doctor can talk this through with both of you if useful.
Book a private consult
Most patients are seen within the week at Milnerton or Table View. You can book by WhatsApp without saying why you are coming in.
R650 private doctor consult, paid upfront by cash or card. It covers the assessment, test selection, explanation of your first results, and a script where clinically appropriate. Lab tests are billed separately by the blood lab (Lancet). Medical aid is optional: you claim back yourself if you have it.