What causes genital warts?
Genital warts are an infectious disease caused by sexually transmitted viruses, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), types 6 and 11.
The incubation period (time between infectious contact and showing clinical signs) can be as long as eight months.
Most infections by HPV cause no symptoms and clear within 2 years. This means that you might not realize that you carry the virus, (and there is a chance that you may infect another person without knowing it).
The virus can persist for months or years in the skin, with or without symptoms. If the warts reappear after clearing it is usually due to the original not a new infection. Infection can occur in up to 30% of women between 20 and 30 years of age; elderly women are less frequently affected.