Genital warts are the most common type of sexually transmitted diseases. Warts appear around genitals and the anus of men and women. In women the warts occur outside or inside the vagina, or around the anus. In men they are found around the penis or anus. A genital wart often occurs in groups and can be very tiny or can accumulate into large masses on genital tissue.

A virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes genital warts. There are 100 types of HPV are present but over 30 of these can infect genital tract. The types of HPV that infect the genital area are called genital HPV. This virus infects 50 percent of sexually active men and women.

There are two types of HPV: high risk HPV and low risk HPV. High risk HPV can cause cervical cancer while low risk HPV often cannot be detected because it does not show symptoms. Since it does not show symptoms, the risk of transmitting this low level HPV is higher. That is because you could have the virus but not even be aware of it. Therefore, check with your doctor regularly to find out how you are doing in the sexual health aspect of medicine.

The most common avenue of transmission is through intercourse with an infected person. About two-thirds of those having sexual contact with an infected partner will develop warts, spread during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Their mother can infect infants during the childbirth.

According to the American Social Health Association, there are over 5 million new cases of genital warts infections reported every year.