Genital warts (or
condylomata acuminata,
venereal warts,
anal warts and
anogenital warts) are symptoms of a highly contagious
sexually transmitted disease caused by some types of
human papillomavirus (HPV). It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during
oral,
genital, or
anal sex with an infected partner.
Warts are the most easily recognized symptom of genital HPV infection. Despite the fact that some types of HPV cause
cervical cancer and
anal cancers, these are not the same types of HPV that cause genital warts. About 90% of those who contract HPV will not develop genital warts, but the remaining 10% who are infected can still transmit the virus. Although estimates of incidence vary between studies, HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active people will get it at some point in their lives. HPV types 6 and 11 are most frequently the cause of genital warts. The
Gardasil vaccine includes coverage for these types. While types 6 and 11 are considered low risk for progression to cancers, it is also possible to be infected with different varieties of HPV, such as a low-risk HPV that causes warts and a high-risk HPV, either at the same or different times.