- A genital wart manifests as a soft, painless lesion that may be a raised growth or a flat bump that is only slightly elevated from the skin's surface. They may be grayish, white or flesh-colored, and range in size from less than a milliliter to several inches wide. Genital warts may develop singly or grow in clusters that take on a cauliflower-like appearance. They typically develop in the genital area, including the vagina, cervix and vulva in women, the penis and scrotum in men as well as the anus and rectum. They may also infect the anal region.
- Another early symptom of genital warts is localized itching. A person suffering from a genital wart infection may complain of discomfort and itching in the affected area. This itching may occur even if there are no genital warts visible in the affected area. A burning sensation may also develop in the area.
- The area around the wart infection may also become more damp and moist. There may also be an increase in the amount of vaginal fluid that is excreted. If the genital warts develop in the entrance of the vaginal canal, there may be some vaginal bleeding during sexual intercourse.
- Some of the first symptoms of genital warts are invisible to the human eye. In this case, a number of tests are used to make the warts visible. One such test involves the application of ascetic acid. Doctors may also use a procedure called colposcopy, which magnifies the lesions, making any warts in the vagina or cervix tissue visible.
- It can take months or even years after the actual infection before the first symptoms of genitals warts are evident. In fact, some infected individuals may not even manifest the typical symptoms of genital warts. The virus may simply lie dormant in the body, and may not cause any symptoms for years.
