Genital warts are skin growths in the groin, genital, or anal areas. They are considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD) because they are caused by a virus that can be spread by sexual contact.

Causes

Like warts that appear on other areas of your skin, genital warts are caused by a virus HPV  that infects the top layers of your skin.

Symptoms

Like many other STDs, HPV infection often does not cause symptoms. One study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reported that almost half of the all women with HPV had no visible symptoms.

Treatment

Many remedies for common skin warts are available without a prescription at drugstores. Many nonprescription wart remedies are available in the form of ointments, plasters, or lotions. They usually include strong chemicals that destroy skin cells, and should be used with caution because they destroy healthy as well as abnormal cells.

A doctor may recommend treatment with a chemical, such as a 25 percent podophyllin solution, which is applied to the affected area and washed off after several hours.