Anal Warts (Condyloma): Symptoms, HPV Cause, Treatment, and Prevention
Updated: 2 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: September 2026
TL;DR: Anal warts (condyloma) are soft, dome-shaped bumps caused by low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) — usually strains 6 and 11, which are not typically associated with cancer. They can multiply quickly into cauliflower-like clusters and often cause no symptoms, which is why silent spread is common. Treatment (topical ointments, cryotherapy, trichloroacetic acid, or surgery) removes the warts but cannot cure HPV, so recurrence is possible. Prevention relies on barrier methods, regular STI testing, and the HPV vaccine.
Quick Answer
What they are: Soft, dome-shaped bumps in or around the anus, also called condyloma, that can cluster into cauliflower-like growths.
Cause: Low-risk HPV — usually strains 6 and 11 — spread through skin-to-skin contact, typically during sex.
Symptoms: Often none; when present, soft lumps, anal bleeding, itching, discharge, or a feeling of fullness.
Cure: No — treatment removes warts but does not cure HPV; warts can return and the person remains infectious.
What Are Anal Warts?
Anal warts are soft, dome-shaped bumps that grow in or around your anus (butthole). They are also known as condyloma. They can multiply quickly and form large, cauliflower-like clusters.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection (STI), causes them. HPV warts can show up on other areas of your body, not just your anus.
You may not know that you have anal warts because they often do not cause noticeable symptoms. You can spread HPV and anal warts even if you do not realize you have them. This is why it is important to get a medical evaluation if you are at increased risk.
Key Fact | Detail |
Medical name | Condyloma |
Appearance | Soft, dome-shaped bumps; can form cauliflower-like clusters |
Cause | Low-risk HPV, spread through skin-to-skin contact (usually during sex) |
Main strains | HPV-6 and HPV-11 (usually not associated with cancer) |
Symptoms | Often none — silent spread is common |
Cure | Treatment removes warts; HPV itself cannot be cured |
What Are the Symptoms of Anal Warts?
Not everyone has symptoms of anal warts. HPV may stay inactive (dormant) in your body and not cause any symptoms.
If you have symptoms, common ones include soft lumps in or around your anus, light brown, yellow, pink, or flesh-colored lumps that may cluster together, anal bleeding, anal itching, discharge leaking from your anus (caused by internal anal warts), and a feeling of fullness in your anus.
See a healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms or if you may have been exposed to anal warts. It may be awkward to talk about, but your provider is there to help you, not judge you.
Symptom | What It Looks Like |
Soft lumps in or around the anus | Dome-shaped bumps, sometimes clustered |
Light brown, yellow, pink, or flesh-colored lumps | May cluster together |
Anal bleeding | Bleeding from the rectal area |
Anal itching | Persistent itch in or around the anus |
Discharge from the anus | Caused by internal anal warts |
Feeling of fullness in the anus | Sensation of pressure or fullness |
What Causes Anal Warts?
Low-risk HPV causes anal warts. HPV spreads from skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex.
There are several dozen strains of HPV. Most anal warts develop from HPV-6 and HPV-11. These strains are not usually associated with cancer.
Factor | Detail |
Causative virus | Low-risk HPV |
Transmission | Skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex |
Most common strains | HPV-6 and HPV-11 |
Cancer association of strains 6/11 | Usually not associated with cancer |
High-risk strains | HPV-16 and HPV-18 may lead to anal cancer in rare cases |
What Are the Risk Factors for Anal Warts?
You are at higher risk for anal warts if you have sex or direct contact with a person who has HPV, have unprotected sex, have sex with multiple partners, or have a weakened immune system.
Risk Factor | Why It Raises Risk |
Contact with a person who has HPV | Direct skin-to-skin transmission route |
Unprotected sex | No barrier to block HPV transfer |
Sex with multiple partners | More potential exposure points |
Weakened immune system | Reduced ability to clear the virus |
What Are the Possible Complications?
Two complications are possible, though both are rare. The Buschke-Löwenstein tumor is a rare, slow-growing tumor that can damage tissue in your anus. In rare cases, anal warts due to certain strains of HPV — like HPV-16 and HPV-18 — may lead to anal cancer.
How Is Anal Warts Diagnosed?
Healthcare providers typically diagnose anal warts with a physical exam. During an exam, your provider will look at the warts and inspect the skin around your anus and genitals. They may need to use a small tool called an anoscope to look inside your anus for warts. If you are female, you may need a pelvic exam.
Providers may do a biopsy if they are unsure whether a bump is a wart or a skin tag. If the warts seem suspicious or do not respond to treatment, your provider may suggest a biopsy if they did not do one before.
Diagnostic Step | Purpose |
Physical exam | Visual inspection of the anal and genital area |
Anoscopy | A small tool examines inside the anus for internal warts |
Pelvic exam | May be needed for women |
Biopsy | Confirms diagnosis if uncertain, suspicious, or treatment-resistant |
It is important to tell your sexual partner(s) if you are diagnosed with anal warts and HPV.
How Are Anal Warts Treated?
Anal warts need to be removed. They may spread to surrounding tissue or become larger without treatment. Your healthcare provider can recommend the best way to remove the warts, and options vary depending on the warts' size and location — topical ointments, surgery, or a combination of both.
Anal warts may go away without treatment if they are small and your immune system fights off the virus. But in most cases, your healthcare provider will recommend treatment.
Topical Treatments
You may only need a topical ointment if the anal warts are small and only on the skin around your anus. Available ointments include imiquimod, podophyllotoxin, and sinecatechins.
If the warts are close to your anal opening, your provider may refer you to a gastroenterologist for different treatment, because these medications can be corrosive and cause irritation.
Do not use over-the-counter wart remover in your anal or genital area. These products are not designed for your anus or genitals.
Some topical treatments "freeze" or "burn" warts, and your healthcare provider applies these. Liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) freezes your skin, causing the warts to fall off. Trichloroacetic acid destroys and breaks down the warts. These treatments may cause minor side effects, like discomfort or swelling.
Surgery
Surgery may be the best option to remove large anal warts or warts inside your rectum. One way providers do it is with electrocautery. Depending on the severity, you may get local or general anesthesia. Your recovery time varies based on the extent of the procedure, so check with your surgeon to make sure you know what to expect afterward.
Treatment | Best For | How It Works |
Imiquimod, podophyllotoxin, sinecatechins ointments | Small warts on skin around the anus | Topical medication applied to the warts |
Cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) | Provider-applied freezing | Freezes skin; warts fall off |
Trichloroacetic acid | Provider-applied chemical destruction | Acid destroys and breaks down the warts |
Surgery (e.g., electrocautery) | Large warts or warts inside the rectum | Removal under local or general anesthesia |
What Can I Expect if I Have This Condition?
Anal warts can come back. That is because treatment can get rid of the warts, but it cannot cure them or HPV. You will always be infectious and need to practice safe sex with your partner(s). Your healthcare provider can discuss whether follow-up appointments are necessary.
Can Anal Warts Be Prevented?
Some steps you can take to help prevent anal warts include using a condom every time you have sex — including using dental dams during oral sex and finger condoms during fingering. Get checked for HPV and STIs regularly (as recommended by your healthcare provider) and encourage your sexual partners to do the same. Talk to your provider about getting the HPV vaccine.
Prevention Step | How It Protects |
Condoms every time you have sex | Barrier reduces skin-to-skin HPV transmission |
Dental dams during oral sex | Barrier for oral-genital contact |
Finger condoms during fingering | Barrier for manual sexual contact |
Regular HPV and STI testing | Early detection; encourages partner testing too |
HPV vaccine | Protects against common wart- and cancer-causing strains |
A Note on Seeking Care
Anal warts and HPV are common STIs. You may feel embarrassed to talk to your healthcare provider about these bumps or their symptoms. But try to remember that your provider is there to help you, not judge you. What is most important is that you get the treatment and care you need. Once you know you have anal warts and HPV, you should tell your sexual partner(s).
Conclusion
Anal warts sit in a reassuring middle ground of HPV outcomes: they are caused by low-risk strains (usually HPV-6 and HPV-11) that are not typically cancer-associated, yet they deserve prompt treatment because they multiply quickly, spread silently, and rarely can involve high-risk strains or lead to a slow-growing Buschke-Löwenstein tumor.
The practical takeaway is that no symptom does not equal no problem — many people carry and spread anal warts without ever noticing them. Diagnosis is simple (physical exam, anoscopy, and biopsy when needed), and treatment is effective at removing the visible warts through ointments, freezing, acid, or surgery. What treatment cannot do is cure the underlying HPV, which is why follow-up, honest partner communication, and barrier protection remain essential long after the warts are gone.
The prevention toolkit mirrors what works for all STIs: condoms (plus dental dams and finger condoms where relevant), regular testing for you and your partners, and the HPV vaccine.
CTA: If you notice any lump, itching, bleeding, or discharge in the anal area — or a partner has been diagnosed with HPV — see a healthcare provider for evaluation. Never apply over-the-counter wart removers to the anal or genital area, and ask your provider whether the HPV vaccine is right for you.
FAQ
What are anal warts?
Anal warts, also called condyloma, are soft, dome-shaped bumps that grow in or around the anus. They can multiply quickly and form large, cauliflower-like clusters. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, and can appear on other body areas too.
What causes anal warts?
Low-risk HPV causes anal warts, spread through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sex. There are several dozen HPV strains; most anal warts develop from HPV-6 and HPV-11, which are not usually associated with cancer.
What do anal warts look like?
They appear as soft, light brown, yellow, pink, or flesh-colored lumps in or around the anus. The lumps may cluster together and grow into cauliflower-like formations. They can also develop inside the anus, where they may cause discharge rather than visible bumps.
Do anal warts always cause symptoms?
No. Many people have no symptoms at all, because HPV may stay dormant in the body. You can spread the virus and the warts without realizing you have them, which is why medical evaluation matters if you are at increased risk.
Can anal warts go away without treatment?
Anal warts may go away without treatment if they are small and your immune system fights off the virus. However, in most cases providers recommend treatment, because untreated warts can spread to surrounding tissue or grow larger.
How are anal warts treated?
Treatment depends on size and location: topical ointments (imiquimod, podophyllotoxin, sinecatechins) for small external warts; provider-applied cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen freezing) or trichloroacetic acid; or surgery such as electrocautery for large warts or warts inside the rectum. Never use over-the-counter wart removers on the anal or genital area.
Do anal warts cause cancer?
Usually not — the strains that cause most anal warts (HPV-6 and HPV-11) are low-risk and not typically associated with cancer. Rarely, warts caused by high-risk strains like HPV-16 and HPV-18 may lead to anal cancer, and a rare slow-growing tumor called Buschke-Löwenstein tumor can damage anal tissue.
Can anal warts come back after treatment?
Yes. Treatment removes the warts but cannot cure HPV, so warts can return and you remain infectious. Practicing safe sex, attending follow-up appointments, and getting regular STI checks help manage recurrence risk.
References
American Academy of Family Physicians. Genital Warts. https://familydoctor.org/condition/genital-warts/
Leslie SW, Sajjad H, Kumar S. Condylomata Acuminata (Genital Warts). StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441884/
National Cancer Institute (U.S.). HPV and Cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-and-cancer
O'Mahony C, Gomberg M, Skerlev M, et al. Position statement for the diagnosis and management of anogenital warts. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Apr;33(6):1006-1019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6593709/
Wolf J, Kist LF, Pereira SB, et al. Human papillomavirus infection: Epidemiology, biology, host interactions, cancer development, prevention, and therapeutics. Rev Med Virol. 2024 May;34(3):e2537. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38666757/
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
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