Medical Disorders Network

Condyloma acuminata (warts in the genital or anal area) are the least common manifestation of HPV and of the list of genital warts symptoms.

These are discrete verrucose or papillary growths, genital warts   59which can be flat or on stalks. They can occur on the cervix, vagina, vulva, urethra, perianal area, or intraanal region. Genital warts can occur as a single lesion or multiple lesions and can be fleshcolored or hyperpigmented.



Subclinical infection is much more common than condylomata. Frequently, the infection is first suggested by an abnormal Pap smear result, which shows cellular changes typical of an HPV infection.

In latent infection, there are no cytologic or histologic changes apparent. It is hard to define the prevalence—20 to 40 percent probably. Natural history is unknown, and latent infection probably accounts for recurrences of infection.

In women, the warts usually occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the cervix, and/or around the anus. Genital warts in men are less common, but if they are present, they are usually on the tip of the penis. Others sites in males are on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, and around the anus. In rare instances, genital warts develop in the mouth or throat of someone who has had oral sex with an infected person.

Genital warts can appear in clusters; they can be tiny or spread into large masses. Sometimes, even when untreated, these warts disappear. In other cases, they eventually develop into a fleshy raised growth that is cauliflowerlike. Because it is impossible to predict whether genital warts will grow or disappear, it is important for those who suspect they have them to seek a physician’s evaluation and, if necessary, treatment. A doctor will need to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate for any related issues, such as an abnormal Pap smear result, which would indicate a need for further monitoring and/or treatment.

Also, a woman should be diligent about having regular Pap smears after a diagnosis of genital warts even though high-grade dysplasia or cancer rarely develops in women with HPV.

Physicians report that one of the first questions a patient asks is when she or he contracted it and from whom. No exact answer is available, because HPV, though sexually transmitted, can be an infection that has been present in that person for some time.

Check out the video below that goes over the types of genital warts symptoms.