HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV stands for human papillomavirus. Sometimes HPV infection can cause warts on the genitals.
Most people who have HPV infection do not know it. Some women get warts or changes in the cervix (the opening to the womb), vulva (a woman’s outer genital area), or anus.
Genital warts are growths or bumps. They can be raised or flat. Sometimes they look like cauliflower. They can be hard to see, especially when they are inside the genital tract.
Hormone changes during pregnancy can cause genital warts to increase in number, get larger, or bleed.
If the warts grow large or uncomfortable while a woman is pregnant, a health care provider can treat them.
Pregnant women who have HPV infection usually do not give it to their babies.
Most women are diagnosed with HPV when they have an abnormal Pap test.
Very rarely, HPV infection results in certain types of cancers.
What you can do:
Tell your health care provider if you think you have genital warts.
Do not use over-the-counter wart treatments in the genital area.
While you're pregnant, you can avoid HPV infection by not having sex. If you do have sex, have sex with only one partner who is only having sex with you, has been tested for HPV infection, and is not infected. Condoms may not protect against infection because they don’t always cover all infected areas.
If you or your partner has genital warts, do not have sex until they have been treated.
For more information, contact:
- CDC information line
(800) 232-4636
In English and Spanish
TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing (888) 232-6348
- National HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Hotline
(919) 361-4848
