Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Genital Condyloma

Genital warts are caused one of the more than 40 strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) and spread through sexual contact.

Most people are exposed to HPV, and many have an immune system that’s strong enough to kill the virus.

A diagnosis of genital warts may begin with a physical exam (including a pelvic exam for women) during a routine annual exam. Tests may include:

Colposcopy: Your physician may flush your genital area with a mild solution to cause warts to appear white, then inspect the area with a lighted magnifying tool.
Pap test: Your physician will take a scraping of cells from your cervix to look for abnormalities under a microscope.
HPV test: In women who have an abnormal Pap smear, this test looks for strains of HPV that are more likely to cause cancer.
Cervical biopsy: A small piece of tissue may be removed from the cervix to study under a microscope for cancer.

If your physician finds genital warts, do not have sex with someone else until the warts are removed.