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Can Genital Warts Go Away on Their Own?

Should you treat your genital warts or wait to see if the body will clear the breakout on its own? Learn more here.

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If you’ve recently found you have a genital wart outbreak you might be wondering if they will just go away on their own. Deciding whether or not to treat these warts is completely up to you.

In this article, we want to give you the need-to-know facts to decide if you want to treat your genital warts or wait to see if the body will clear the breakout.

What are genital warts?

Genital warts are small flesh-colored bumps that appear on or around the genitals. Warts are a symptom of the sexually transmitted virus HPV (human papillomavirus). This virus is spread by vaginal and anal sex, sharing sex toys, and, rarely, by oral sex.

It’s important to note that this is not the same thing as genital herpes.

Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus.

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Related: Comparing Genital Warts vs. Genital Herpes | Are They The Same?

Will genital warts go away?

This question is actually two-fold, as when dealing with genital warts you must consider both the cause and symptoms.

Considering the cause: HPV

The human papillomavirus is the cause of genital warts. So, can HPV clear on its own so you don’t experience any more genital wart breakouts? In most cases, yes but it can take a considerable amount of time.

How long do genital warts last?

HPV is known as a transient infection and the body will often clear the virus within 1 to 2 years.

However, if the virus is still active in your system you can still experience the symptoms of the virus (genital herpes).

80 to 90 percent of men and women clear the virus on their own.

However, for a small percentage of people, 10 to 20 percent of people, the infection can become persistent and chronic.

If you have an immune-related illness, it might be harder to fight the HPV infection, causing a longer clearing timeline.

There is no cure for HPV itself, but there are treatments available to treat the symptoms of HPV.

Learn More: HSV1 vs HSV2: Differences and Similarities

Do genital warts disappear on their own?

In most cases, genital warts can resolve themselves within two years as the virus clears.

However, treatment can considerably speed up the process and avoid any complication or spread of warts.

Treatment of genital warts can:

  • Speed up clearing genital warts
  • Help avoid possible complications or worsening of the condition
  • Ease any pain, itching, or skin irritation caused by the warts
  • Potentially lower the risk of spreading HPV

It’s important to note, if your body clears the physical symptom of HPV, you might still carry the virus.

Can you leave genital warts untreated?

One of three things can happen if you leave genital warts untreated.

  1. They go away on their own
  2. They stay the same and do not resolve
  3. They grow larger and/or spread to other areas of the body

Leaving them untreated is not harmful to your health, however, you might feel discomfort, pain, and distress.

Genital wart treatment can lessen the risk you give HPV to someone else.

Genital warts caused by HPV are considered more contagious than any other type of wart.

However, HPV can spread without warts present. Remember to wear a condom.

Read Related: Valacyclovir vs Acyclovir: 9 Things That Make Them Different

Can genital warts go away?: Key Takeaways

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