How Do Genital Warts Go Away in Women? Treatment

How Do Genital Warts Go Away in Women?

After noticing a small bump in the shower or in the mirror one morning, many questions may start running through your mind:

“Was it there before? Is it a wart? Is it HPV? Who did I get it from, and when? Could it be cancer?”

This anxiety is completely normal and understandable, but in most cases the situation is not nearly as bad as you might fear...

HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. Most sexually active people encounter HPV at some point in their lives, and most never even notice it. The majority of infections are cleared by the immune system within 1–2 years. (About 90% clear within 2 years.)

In other words, HPV is not a rare infection that only affects certain people.

Moreover, not every bump in the genital area is HPV. Skin tags, ingrown hair follicle inflammation, sebaceous glands, and the normal anatomical structures of the vulva can be mistaken for warts.

Even when it really is a genital wart, most are associated with low-risk HPV types such as HPV 6 and 11. For this reason, hearing the word “wart” does not mean “cancer.”

One of the most common mistakes is panicking and trying to treat it at home. Medications intended for hand and foot warts or acid-based products recommended online can cause serious burns and scarring in the genital area. The skin in the genital area is much more sensitive than that of the hands and feet.

The first step is to determine whether the lesion is truly a wart. If it is confirmed to be a wart, treatment is possible. The choice between creams, freezing, electrocautery, TCA, laser, or minor surgical procedures depends on the wart’s location, number, size, pregnancy status, and the patient’s expectations.

Warts reappearing after treatment does not mean the treatment has failed. Because HPV can remain in the surrounding skin and mucosa for some time without being visible, recurrences may occur, especially in the first few months. If a recurrence occurs, it should be treated promptly before it spreads.

However, in the long term, the goal is not only to remove the visible wart. Keeping up with cervical cancer screening and considering and receiving the HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) are just as important as treating the warts.

One of the most striking examples of the population-level impact of the HPV vaccine is Australia. Following widespread vaccination programs, a very significant decline in genital warts among young women has been reported, and the country has made major progress toward eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.

In short, the goal is not just to get rid of the wart, but also to manage your long-term HPV health.

What Are Genital Warts in Women?

Genital warts in women are lesions caused by HPV infection that develop in the genital area (vagina, vulva, perineum, cervix) or on the skin of the buttocks and around the anus.

Warts can also appear in areas outside the genital region. In particular, as a result of oral sex, they may be seen on the tongue, the base of the tongue, or in the throat.

They are most commonly seen:

• On the vulva,
• At the vaginal opening,
• On the perineum,
• Around the anus,
• Less commonly, inside the vagina or on the cervix.

They may appear as a single small bump or as multiple, clustered, or cauliflower-like growths.

Most genital warts are associated with low oncogenic risk HPV types such as HPV types 6 and 11.

Is Every Bump on the Vagina or Vulva HPV?

No. Although many bumps in the genital area are commonly called “warts,” not all of them are HPV.

Conditions that can be confused with genital warts include:

• Skin tags,
• Folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles),
• Molluscum contagiosum,
• Prominent sebaceous glands,
• Normal anatomical structures of the vulva.

In particular, a pimple-like lesion that appears after shaving does not automatically mean HPV.

Having new, persistent, or changing vulvar lesions examined is the safest approach.

How Are Genital Warts Diagnosed?

Typical genital warts can usually be recognized by their appearance during a gynecological examination.

Not every wart requires a biopsy.

However, in women, cervical cancer screening must always be reviewed.

In my practice, I have seen that most patients who come to me with genital warts have neglected or delayed their routine Pap smear or HPV screening. One of the most important aspects of genital wart treatment is reviewing cancer screening.

A biopsy may be considered if any of the following features are present:

• Firmness,
• Pigmented appearance,
• Ulceration,
• Bleeding easily,
• Rapid growth,
• Attachment to the surrounding tissues,
• Failure to respond to appropriate treatment.

This is because not every lesion in the genital area is an HPV wart, and sometimes a different diagnosis may be found.

How Are Genital Warts Treated in Women?

The goal of genital wart treatment in women is to remove visible warts and relieve the discomfort they cause.

There is no single “best” method for everyone. When choosing a treatment, the following are evaluated together:

• The number of warts,
• Their size,
• Their location,
• Pregnancy status,
• Previous treatments,
• The patient’s expectations.

Can Genital Warts in Women Be Treated With Creams?

Some external genital warts can be treated with prescription topical medications.

Treatments that may be used include imiquimod, podofilox/podophyllotoxin, or sinecatechins.

However, not all of these medications are suitable for every part of the genital area. In particular, they should not be applied inside the vagina without medical guidance.

Standard wart medications sold for hand and foot warts should not be used in the genital area. Genital skin and mucosa are much more sensitive; serious irritation and chemical burns may occur.

How Is Cryotherapy (Freezing) Used for Genital Warts in Women?

Cryotherapy is the freezing of the wart, usually with liquid nitrogen.

It may be preferred for small warts or a limited number of warts.

A burning sensation or pain may be felt during the procedure. Afterwards, the following may occur:

• Redness,
• Tenderness,
• A small wound or scabbing.

Some patients require more than one session.

What Is Cauterization (Burning) Treatment for Genital Warts in Women?

Electrocautery or electrosurgery can allow multiple or larger warts to be removed in a single session.

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia.

In my own practice, it is one of the methods I use most often for suitable lesions. When performed correctly, scarring can be kept to a minimum.

Is Laser Treatment Necessary for Genital Warts in Women?

CO₂ laser may be considered for widespread, large, hard-to-reach, or recurrent warts.

However, laser is not necessary for every patient, and it has not been shown to be superior to freezing or electrocautery in all patients.

If the depth and method of application are not chosen appropriately, problems such as scarring or skin discoloration may occur.

What Is TCA Wart Treatment?

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a chemical treatment applied to wart tissue in a controlled manner.

Because it can cause burns if it comes into contact with healthy skin, it must be applied by a physician.

Using TCA or other acids at home on your own is not appropriate.

What Is the Fastest Genital Wart Treatment?

There is no single “fastest” method for everyone.

For a small number of small warts, cryotherapy or topical medications may be sufficient.

For multiple or large lesions, electrocautery, surgical removal, or, in selected patients, laser treatment can clear many warts in a single session.

For this reason, when researching treatment options online with a search such as “genital wart treatment in Turkey,” it is better to focus first on getting an accurate diagnosis of the lesion and choosing the method that is right for you, rather than only on the name of the device used.

What Happens If I Pull Off a Genital Wart?

Pulling off or cutting a wart does not treat HPV.

On the contrary, it may cause:

• Bleeding,
• Infection,
• An open wound,
• Permanent scarring.

Cutting with scissors, piercing with a needle, or trying to burn it off with acid is not recommended.

In addition, traumatizing the wart and surrounding skin may risk spreading the virus to other areas. As a result of uncontrolled spread, the patient may end up with even more warts.

Can Shaving Spread Genital Warts in Women?

Running a razor over active warts is not advisable.

A razor can cut the wart, causing bleeding and irritation of the surrounding skin. While lesions are present, it is safer not to shave over the warts.

That said, not every bump that appears after shaving is HPV. Folliculitis is frequently mistaken for genital warts.

If a lesion is cut in an uncontrolled way, it will spread.

When Can I Have Sex After Genital Wart Treatment?

You should wait until the visible warts have disappeared and the treated skin has healed.

After cauterization, laser, or cryotherapy, if any of the following persist:

• An open wound,
• Bleeding,
• Significant tenderness,

sexual intercourse may delay healing.

Even after the warts have disappeared, it is not possible to say on which exact day HPV stops being contagious.

Condoms reduce the risk of transmission, but because they do not cover the entire genital area, they do not provide complete protection against HPV.

Once the Warts Are Gone, Is HPV Completely Gone?

No. The disappearance of a visible wart does not mean that HPV has been completely eliminated at the same time.

Wart treatments remove visible lesions; there is no medication that directly clears HPV from the body. For this reason, new warts may develop, especially in the first few months.

A recurrence does not necessarily mean a new HPV infection.

Do Genital Warts in Women Go Away on Their Own?

Yes. Some genital warts may regress over time without treatment.

However, some may:

• Remain the same,
• Grow larger,
• Increase in number.

The decision to treat should be based on the wart’s location, size, the symptoms it causes, and the patient’s expectations.

Can Genital Warts in Women Turn Into Cancer?

Most typical genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV types that are not strongly associated with cancer.

Therefore, having genital warts does not mean “I have cancer.”

However, different high-risk HPV types may also be present in the same person.

For lesions that are firm, ulcerated, pigmented, constantly bleeding, or that do not resolve despite treatment, the diagnosis should be re-evaluated, and biopsies should be taken.

If I Have Genital Warts, Should I Have a Pap Smear or HPV Test?

Having genital warts does not, on its own, mean that you need Pap smears or HPV tests more often than usual.

Most of the genital wart patients I see are women who have neglected or not taken their routine Pap smear and HPV screening seriously, but who come to me frightened once a wart appears. In this situation, after reassuring the patient, the necessary tests should be reviewed.

Women should continue cervical cancer screening appropriate for their age and personal risk.

The HPV types that cause genital warts are usually different from the high-risk HPV types associated with cervical cancer.

However, if your screening is due, it is important not to postpone your Pap smear or HPV test.

Can I Pass Genital Warts to My Partner?

Yes. HPV can be transmitted to partners.

Transmission does not only occur through penetration; it can also occur through close genital skin-to-skin contact.

HPV transmission is possible even during periods when no visible warts are present.

When visible warts are present, the risk of transmission increases.

It is appropriate to inform your current partner. If your partner has visible lesions, an examination may be recommended. However, your partner does not need routine HPV testing simply because you have genital warts.

I Haven’t Cheated on My Partner, So How Did I Get Genital Warts?

The appearance of a wart today does not mean that HPV was transmitted recently.

HPV can remain in the body for a long time without causing any symptoms. For this reason, it is often impossible to determine exactly when or from which partner the virus was transmitted.

Genital warts alone are not a sign of cheating or infidelity.

Can Genital Warts Be Treated During Pregnancy?

Yes. When necessary, genital warts can also be treated during pregnancy. However, the methods that can be used are different.

During pregnancy, warts may:

• Grow larger,
• Increase in number,
• Bleed more easily.

Cryotherapy or appropriate surgical methods may be used to treat warts in selected pregnant patients.

Most patients do not want to take the risk of their warts spreading during pregnancy.

Podofilox/podophyllotoxin and sinecatechins should not be used during pregnancy. Because data on imiquimod in pregnancy are limited, its use is generally avoided during pregnancy.

Genital warts alone are not a reason for a cesarean section. A cesarean section may only be considered if the lesions block the birth canal or pose a risk of serious bleeding during vaginal delivery.

Can I Get the HPV Vaccine If I Have Genital Warts?

Yes. Having had genital warts does not prevent you from receiving the HPV vaccine.

However, the HPV vaccine does not treat existing warts.

The aim is to protect the person in the future against HPV types they have not yet been exposed to.

The HPV vaccine should not be given during pregnancy. If you become pregnant after starting the Gardasil vaccine series, the remaining doses can be completed after pregnancy.

Genital Warts in Women: Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Days Does It Take for Genital Warts to Go Away?

There is no fixed time frame. Depending on the number and size of the lesions and the method used, treatment can range from a single session to several weeks.

Can Genital Warts Come Back?

Yes. There is a chance they may come back. Strengthening the immune system is important.

Because HPV can remain in the surrounding skin and mucosa for some time without being visible, new warts may develop, especially in the first few months after treatment.

Do Condoms Provide Complete Protection Against HPV?

No. Condoms reduce the risk of transmission, but because they do not cover the entire genital area, they do not provide complete protection.

Do Antibiotics Help Genital Warts?

No. Genital warts are caused by a virus called HPV. Antibiotics do not treat HPV infection, that is, the virus.

Can I Get Waxed If I Have Genital Warts?

It is better to postpone waxing, shaving, or similar procedures that may irritate the area with active warts during the treatment and healing period. Avoid anything that may increase spreading.

Can an HPV Test Be Negative If I Have Genital Warts?

Yes. Cervical HPV tests usually look for high-risk HPV types in a sample taken from the cervix. Having warts in the external genital area and the result of a cervical HPV test do not measure the same thing.

For this reason, a woman with visible genital warts may have a negative cervical high-risk HPV test!

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines: Anogenital Warts.
2. CDC. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection – STI Treatment Guidelines.
3. CDC. HPV Vaccine Recommendations.
4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Infection and Vaccination.
5. ACOG. Vulvovaginal Health.

© 2026 Assoc. Prof. Dr. H. Doğukan Özkan. All rights reserved. This article is for general information purposes only; please consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment. It may not be copied or reproduced without permission.