What should you know about pubic warts?

They may appear as rough, raised, flat, or clustered growths on pubic or genital skin. Appearance does not establish the cause, and a wart-like lesion can be confused with a skin tag, molluscum, cyst, or another condition. HPV can be passed through intimate skin-to-skin contact, including when a partner has no obvious lesion. A clinician can examine the area and discuss testing for other sexually transmitted infections when appropriate.

Arrange an appointment with a dermatologist, sexual-health clinician, or primary-care professional. Avoid picking, shaving over, or using pharmacy wart acids on genital skin. Until assessed, consider avoiding sexual contact with the affected skin; condoms reduce but do not remove transmission risk because uncovered skin may still touch. Tell current or recent partners if a clinician confirms a sexually transmitted wart, and ask about vaccination and screening suited to your circumstances. Treatment may include imiquimod, cryotherapy, electrosurgery, or another wart-removal approach.

Seek prompt review for bleeding, ulceration, rapid change, severe pain, spreading lesions, discharge, or difficulty passing urine. Arrange earlier care during pregnancy, with a weakened immune system, or after a possible sexual exposure. Urgent help is needed for severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, fever, or marked pain.

Does this lesion look like a wart or something else? Should I have sexually transmitted infection testing? Which treatment fits its site, and how should I protect partners while it is being assessed or treated?