The human papilloma virus (HPV) is infective and can be transmitted from person to person by sexual contact.  Other people at risk of getting infected are people with a weakened immune system.  Warty growths can arise after infection.  It is important to try to treat the condition as quickly as possible because the warts can spread and grow over the whole genital area, and treatment is more difficult once the condition is more extensive.  Patients should present to the local GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) clinic in the first instance.  You can often drop in without an appointment.  The correct diagnosis will be made and anal warts are often treated with a cream.  If the condition becomes more extensive then diathermy excision may be required in the operating theatre under a general anaesthetic.

It is important to treat anal warts because rarely they can change into anal cancer.