HPV vaccine to prevent genital warts

HPV is the virus that causes genital warts. A vaccine is available that helps protect against HPV. It's recommended for both males and females. Your health care provider can tell you more.

A health danger

Be aware of the following:

• Warts can be treated. But the virus never goes away.

• Home treatments don't cure warts.

• If you have genital warts, you probably have an HPV (human papillomavirus) infection. Over time, certain strains of this virus can lead to cancer. This can happen in both males and females. The strains that can lead to cancer tend to be the ones that don't create visible warts. This is why the HPV vaccine is so important. It protects against the common HPV strains that cause cancer, particularly genotypes 16 and 18.

• A baby can get genital warts from an infected mother during birth.

Know the risks

• Having many sex partners puts you at risk for getting genital warts.

• Having sex without a condom makes it easier to get warts. But you can still catch HPV even when you use a condom. Be sure you use latex condoms.

• HPV can be spread even if the person doesn't have any genital warts that you can see.

• The best way to prevent this infection is to not have sex. But if you have sex, be sure you and your partner see a health care provider. You and your partner should also be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

• If you or your partner has this disease, get treatment for all warts you can see. Don’t have sex during treatment. After warts have been treated, use latex condoms.

Talk to your partner

It may be hard to talk about this with your partner. But talking about it can help keep you and your partner safe. Ask yourself and your partner these questions:

“Have you ever had sex with anyone without using a condom?”

“Have you ever had genital warts?”

“Have you ever had a sexually transmitted infection?”

Did you or your partner answer “yes” to any of these questions? If so, you should both get tested for STIs.

Latex condoms may help

Warts can form in places a condom doesn’t cover. This means condoms can’t totally protect you. But they can help.

• Use latex male condoms or female condoms.

• Keep latex condoms on hand. Store them in a cool place. Don’t keep them in your wallet or car.

• If you use a lubricant, make sure it’s water-based. Don’t use petroleum jelly, oils, or hand creams. These can make the condom break.

Treating genital warts

Genital warts usually disappear on their own. However, sometimes they may grow in size and number. Do not use over-the-counter medicines meant for other kinds of warts.

Your doctor or nurse may apply a chemical to treat the warts. Your doctor may also:

• Use an electric current to burn off the warts.

• Use a light (laser) to destroy warts.

• Freeze off the warts.

• Cut out the warts.

Preventing genital warts

The best way to prevent genital warts is by not having sex.

Two other ways that are helpful in preventing genital warts are to:

• Use condoms.

• Get the HPV vaccine. The CDC recommends starting the 3-part vaccination series at age 9 years so that your child is fully vaccinated before they become sexually active.