Genital Warts and HPV: Signs, Treatment and the Vaccine
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera, MD
Licensed Physician No. 484814280 · Official Medical College of Bizkaia (Spain)Last reviewed: 29 October 2026
Genital warts are common and treatable. What they look like, why HPV 6 and 11 are not the cancer types, treatment, the HPV vaccine and screening in Spain.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is an independent, bilingual GP licensed in Spain. Book a 15-minute video consultation in English or Spanish for €50, with a private electronic prescription issued under Spanish law when clinically appropriate.
Genital warts are small lumps on or around the genitals or anus. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), usually types 6 and 11. These are low-risk types. They do not cause cancer. Warts are common, they are not dangerous, and a doctor can treat them. Sometimes they go away on their own.
- About 9 in 10 genital warts come from HPV 6 or 11, low-risk types that do not cause cervical cancer.
- Cervical cancer comes from other, high-risk HPV types. Spain checks for these through cervical screening.
- Treatment is a cream a doctor prescribes, freezing, or a short clinic procedure. Pharmacy wart products are not for the genitals.
- Warts can clear without treatment, but they can also grow or come back.
- Spain gives the HPV vaccine to boys and girls at 12, with catch-up for older teens.
- Condoms lower the risk, but they do not cover all the skin, so they do not fully protect.
Dr. Pedro Yelamo Vera is a GP licensed in Spain (Colegiado No. 484814280).
For a medical emergency, call 112 or go to the nearest local emergency department. Do not wait for a video consultation or an online reply.
What do genital warts look like?
They are small lumps on the skin, soft or firm. They may be skin-coloured, white, red or darker. Some appear alone. Others grow in groups that look a little like a cauliflower. Some are flat and hard to see.
- Where: penis, scrotum, vulva, vagina, cervix, around the anus or the upper thighs.
- How they feel: most cause no pain. Some itch or bleed a little.
- In Spanish: verrugas genitales or condilomas.
Finding a lump down there is worrying. You are not alone: HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.
Are genital warts dangerous? Low-risk and high-risk HPV
There are many types of HPV. Doctors sort them into two groups.
| Group | Main types | What they can cause |
|---|---|---|
| Low-risk | HPV 6 and 11 | Genital warts. Not cancer. |
| High-risk | HPV 16 and 18, plus a few others | Cell changes in the cervix and, over many years, some cancers. These usually cause no warts and no symptoms. |
So having warts does not mean you have cancer or will get it. The US CDC says women with warts do not need cervical screening more often than others. They still need their normal checks.
How do you get genital warts?
- By skin-to-skin contact during vaginal or anal sex. Rarely, through oral sex.
- By sharing sex toys.
- From a partner with no visible warts.
You do not catch them from towels, toilet seats or kissing. Warts can appear weeks or months after contact, sometimes longer. So a new wart does not prove that a partner was unfaithful.
Do genital warts go away on their own?
Sometimes. The NHS says they can disappear without treatment within six months. The CDC adds that they may also stay or grow. Waiting is a fair choice if they do not bother you. Many people prefer treatment.
Found a lump and not sure what it is?
You can book a video visit with a GP licensed in Spain, in English or Spanish. He listens to your story, can look on camera if you wish, and tells you what the next step should be.
How are genital warts treated?
A doctor or nurse should choose the treatment. Do not use pharmacy wart products: they are made for hands and feet. The main options are:
- A cream or liquid a doctor prescribes, which you put on at home. Examples are imiquimod and podophyllotoxin. The leaflet says how to use it.
- Freezing (crioterapia) in a clinic, sometimes over several sessions.
- Other clinic treatments: cutting the wart away under local anaesthetic, heat, laser, or an acid painted on by a clinician.
The choice depends on how many warts you have, where they are, and whether you are pregnant. Treatment can take weeks or months, and warts can come back. Some creams can weaken condoms and diaphragms, so ask about this.
Can condoms and the HPV vaccine protect you?
Condoms lower the risk. HPV can live on skin a condom does not cover, so the protection is only partial.
The vaccine used in Spain covers types 6 and 11 and the main high-risk types. It prevents new infections but does not treat warts you have. After warts, it can still protect you from the other types.
| Country | Who gets the HPV vaccine |
|---|---|
| Spain | Boys and girls at 12, as a single dose. Teens who missed it can catch up, up to age 18. Some regions and risk groups have wider ages. |
| UK | School Year 8 (age 12 to 13). Catch-up at a GP until the 25th birthday. Men who have sex with men up to 45, at sexual health clinics. |
| US | Routinely at 11 to 12, from age 9. Catch-up up to 26. Adults aged 27 to 45 can discuss it with a doctor. |
Missed it? Ask your centro de salud what your region offers at your age.
What about partners?
Tell your current partner. They may already carry the virus without signs. The CDC does not advise an HPV test for partners, but a check-up and STI test can help. Nobody is to blame.
Genital warts in pregnancy
Warts are usually not harmful in pregnancy, but they can grow. Most creams are not used in pregnancy, so treatment is often delayed until after the birth. Warts often fade after delivery. Warts alone are not a reason for a caesarean. Passing HPV to the baby is rare. The vaccine is not given in pregnancy. Tell your midwife about any warts.
How does cervical screening work in Spain?
Spain screens people with a cervix from 25 to 65. Your centro de salud or your region will invite you.
- From 25: a smear test (citología) every three years.
- From 30 or 35, up to 65: an HPV test (prueba del VPH) every five years. It looks for high-risk types.
The switch age depends on your region. Keep going even if you are vaccinated.
When should you see a doctor?
- You notice new lumps, itching or bleeding around the genitals or anus.
- A partner tells you they have genital warts.
- You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy and have warts.
- Your immune system is weak, or warts keep coming back.
- Vaginal bleeding that is not normal for you.
- A young child has genital warts. This always needs a doctor's check. Warts can pass to a child at birth or through everyday contact, but the doctor will also make sure the child is safe, as child-protection guidance asks.
Genital warts are not an emergency. Call 112 only for heavy bleeding that will not stop, or if you feel faint or very unwell.
Talking it through with a doctor by video
Dr. Yelamo is a GP licensed in Spain. He sees adults, children and pregnant patients by video, every day from 07:30 to 20:30 (Spain time). In the visit he will:
- Ask when you noticed the lumps and how they have changed.
- Look on camera, only if you are comfortable with that.
- Explain whether this sounds like warts or something else.
- Talk through treatment, STI testing and screening. If you need freezing or an in-person exam, he tells you where to go.
He does not promise any test or prescription before the visit. Where clinically appropriate, following a genuine evaluation. Treatment and prescriptions are issued solely at the doctor's discretion based on evidence-based clinical guidelines.
A prescription is never guaranteed: it is issued only where clinically appropriate after a genuine evaluation, as a private electronic prescription under Spanish law. This service is for urgent, non-emergency care. In an emergency, call 112.
See how the Urgent Care video visit works. It lasts 15 minutes and costs €50.
This guide is general information. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Are genital warts a sign of cancer?
No. About 9 in 10 are caused by HPV 6 or 11, which are low-risk types. Cervical cancer is linked to other, high-risk types, which screening looks for.
Can genital warts go away without treatment?
Yes, sometimes, often within months. They can also stay or grow, so many people choose treatment.
Can I treat genital warts with a pharmacy wart product?
No. Those products are for hands and feet. Genital warts need a treatment chosen by a doctor or nurse.
Do condoms stop genital warts?
They lower the risk but do not fully protect, because HPV can be on skin a condom does not cover.
Is the HPV vaccine still worth it if I have had warts?
Often yes. It does not treat warts you have, but it can protect against the other HPV types it covers. A doctor can tell you if it fits your age and situation.
Who gets the HPV vaccine in Spain?
Boys and girls at 12, with catch-up for teens up to 18. Some regions and some risk groups have wider ages.
Sources
- CDC: Anogenital warts, STI treatment guidelines
- NHS 111 Wales: Genital warts
- Ministerio de Sanidad: HPV and vaccination (in Spanish)
- UKHSA: HPV vaccination guidance
- Junta de Castilla y León: Cervical screening programme (in Spanish)
Related guides
Medical Citations & Sources
This content is written and reviewed by a licensed physician with reference to the following official health authorities.
