They may appear as small, flesh-colored, pink, or slightly darker growths around the genitals or anus. Some are flat and difficult to notice, while others are raised and may cluster into irregular or cauliflower-like shapes.
The number and appearance of the warts can vary considerably.
Some people develop only one or two small lesions, while others experience multiple growths.
Is HPV the same as cancer?
HPV is a large family of viruses. Different types behave differently.
Certain HPV types cause most genital warts, while other types are associated with cervical cancer and several other cancers. The HPV types responsible for most genital warts are generally different from the high-risk types most strongly associated with cancer.
Finding a genital wart does not mean that a person has cancer.
Nevertheless, HPV prevention remains important. HPV vaccination protects against several important HPV types, including types responsible for most genital warts and several HPV-related cancers.
Can genital warts disappear?
Some warts resolve without treatment, while others remain or increase in number.
Treatment options include clinician-applied medications, prescription topical treatments for suitable lesions, and procedures such as cryotherapy or surgical removal.
The appropriate approach depends on the location, size, number, and appearance of the lesions.
Do not use ordinary over-the-counter wart-removal products intended for the hands or feet on genital skin. These products may cause serious irritation or chemical injury.
A healthcare professional can help distinguish genital warts from other skin growths and recommend an appropriate treatment.
4. Molluscum Contagiosum: Smooth Bumps With a Small Central Indentation
Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin infection that produces small, smooth, rounded bumps. They are often skin-colored, pink, or pearly and may have a tiny indentation in the center.
The lesions can appear on several parts of the body, including the genital region.
In adults, genital lesions may sometimes spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. However, molluscum contagiosum is not exclusively a sexually transmitted infection and can spread through other forms of direct contact.
What symptoms should you look for?
The bumps are often painless, although they may become itchy, irritated, or inflamed.
Scratching can spread the virus to nearby skin, causing additional lesions.
The condition is usually benign in otherwise healthy people, but lesions can persist for months and occasionally longer.
Does molluscum contagiosum require treatment?
Some cases resolve naturally. Others may be treated when lesions are persistent, uncomfortable, spreading, or located in a sensitive area.
A clinician can determine whether treatment is appropriate and explain the potential for irritation, scarring, or pigment changes.
Do not squeeze or puncture the bumps. This can damage the skin and encourage further spread.
Because molluscum lesions may resemble other conditions, an examination is especially important when bumps appear on the genitals for the first time.
5. Folliculitis and Ingrown Hairs: Common Causes That Are Not Necessarily STIs
Not every genital bump is caused by a virus or sexually transmitted infection.
Folliculitis occurs when hair follicles become inflamed. It may develop after shaving, waxing, friction, sweating, or exposure to bacteria.
The affected area may contain small red bumps, sometimes with a visible hair or a tiny pustule in the center.
Ingrown hairs occur when a hair grows back into the skin rather than emerging normally. They can produce tender bumps, redness, and occasional pus.
These conditions often occur on hair-bearing skin, including the pubic region.
What can make them worse?
Close shaving, tight clothing, friction, and repeated picking may irritate the follicles and delay healing.
Some cases improve with gentle cleansing and avoiding the activity that triggered the irritation.
However, painful or recurrent lesions may require medical evaluation, especially if they enlarge, develop significant drainage, or spread.
A deep, painful lump may represent an abscess or another condition that should not be treated by squeezing it.
If bumps recur frequently, a healthcare professional can help determine whether folliculitis, ingrown hairs, or another skin disorder is responsible.
6. Syphilis: A Sexually Transmitted Infection That Can Cause Sores
Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum.
During its early stage, syphilis may cause a sore at the site where the bacteria entered the body. The sore, called a chancre, is often firm and painless, although its appearance can vary.
It may develop on the genitals, around the anus, or in the mouth.
Because the sore may be painless and can heal without treatment, a person may not realize that an infection is present.
Healing of the sore does not mean that the infection has disappeared.