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Free risk assessment

Do I Have Genital Warts?

Genital warts are soft growths caused by certain strains of HPV and are spread by skin-to-skin contact. Answer a few questions about your symptoms and risk factors to see how concerned to be and where to get tested. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

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New U.S. cases per year
~400,000
estimated annual new genital wart cases, among the most common STI presentations
Prevalence
~1 in 100
sexually active U.S. adults has genital warts at any given time
Curable
No
visible warts can be removed; the underlying HPV infection persists; recurrence in 20–50% of cases
Vaccine-preventable
Yes, Gardasil 9
covers HPV 6 and 11; 99%+ efficacy against genital warts from covered types before first exposure

How it works

How this assessment works

  • Grounded in public-health guidance

    The questions, and how heavily each answer counts, follow the risk factors and symptoms the CDC and WHO describe for Genital warts.

  • A risk guide, not a diagnosis

    Your answers produce a risk level, how concerned to be, and flag anything that needs urgent care. Only a lab test can confirm or rule out an infection.

  • Private by design

    It runs in your browser. We never ask for your name, email, or anything that identifies you.

About genital warts

What is genital warts?

Spotted a new bump and want to know if it's a wart? It's a common worry, and the reassuring headline is that genital warts are not dangerous: they're caused by low-risk HPV (types 6 and 11), which never turn into cancer. They are, however, contagious and they like to come back, so it's worth knowing what you're dealing with.

Warts show up as soft, flesh-colored bumps, flat, raised, or cauliflower-like, sometimes in clusters, usually painless but occasionally itchy. The catch is that plenty of harmless things look just like them: skin tags, pearly penile papules, and dimpled molluscum bumps all get mistaken for warts. Because look-alikes are so common, a clinician confirming by sight beats guessing. This check helps you gauge how likely warts are and what to do next: it isn't a diagnosis, and there's no swab or blood "wart test" to replace that visual exam.

Many infections are silent. A low result here doesn't rule genital warts out: if you've had a new partner or any concern, testing is the only way to be sure.

Screening guidance

Who should get tested for genital warts?

Testing for genital warts is guided by symptoms, a known exposure, or a partner's diagnosis rather than routine screening, you test when you have a reason to.

  1. 1

    You've noticed a new bump or growth

    Any new, unexplained growth around the genitals, anus or groin is worth a look, a clinician can tell a wart from a harmless look-alike on the same visit.

  2. 2

    A partner has warts or told you they have HPV

    Warts can hide in less visible or internal spots, and you may carry the virus before anything shows, a check-up is worth considering.

  3. 3

    You haven't completed the HPV vaccine

    Gardasil 9 prevents the types behind most warts. It works best before exposure, but still protects against types you haven't met yet, worth discussing through your 20s and beyond.

  4. 4

    You have a weakened immune system

    If your immunity is lowered, for example by HIV, warts can be more numerous, more stubborn, and harder to treat, so prompt evaluation matters more.

Timing

When a genital warts test is reliable

There's no lab or blood test for warts: they're identified by a clinician looking at the area, so the moment to act is when you notice something, not after a set waiting period. Warts typically surface 2–3 months after exposure but can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year, so if you were recently exposed but see nothing yet, keep an eye out and get checked if a bump appears.
Full genital warts testing guide: cost, treatment & where to test

Stats & rates

Genital warts in the United States

400k
new genital wart cases each year in the U.S. (2022)
1 in 100
sexually active U.S. adults has genital warts at any given time

Medically Reviewed · Updated

Reviewed by Dr. Grace Lin, MD, FACOG · OB-GYN

Obstetrician-gynecologist focused on reproductive and sexual health for women: pregnancy, BV, yeast, trichomoniasis and HPV/cervical screening. Our editorial guidelines →

8 Sources

Clinical guidance

Data & references

Good to Know

Genital warts FAQs

What people ask most before testing for genital warts.

What do genital warts look like?

They're usually small, soft, skin-colored or grayish bumps, flat, raised, or cauliflower-like, sometimes in clusters, on or around the genitals or anus. They're often painless, though they can itch. A clinician can confirm them just by looking.

Are genital warts the same as cancer-causing HPV?

No. Warts come from low-risk HPV types (often 6 and 11) that don't cause cancer. The cancer-linked HPV types are different and usually cause no visible signs: which is why cervical screening, not wart-watching, is what catches those.

Could my bumps be something else?

Possibly. Pearly penile papules, skin tags, and molluscum (which have a central dimple) are commonly mistaken for warts. Because look-alikes are common, it's worth having a clinician confirm before assuming.

How are genital warts treated?

They don't always need treatment and can clear on their own, but a clinician can remove them with prescription creams, freezing, or minor procedures. Treatment clears the warts but doesn't remove the underlying HPV, so they can come back.

Can I prevent genital warts?

The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) protects against the types that cause most genital warts, and condoms lower but don't eliminate the risk. Once you have the virus, avoiding skin-to-skin contact during an outbreak reduces passing it on.

Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.

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