Can genital warts cause cervical cancer

Genital warts are soft growths on the skin and mucus membranes of the genitals. They may be found on the penis, vulva, urethra,vagina, cervix, and around and in the anus. Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

The virus that causes genital warts is called human papilloma virus (HPV). More than 70 different types of HPV exist. Certain types of HPV can lead to precancerous changes in the cervix, cervical cancer, or anal cancer. These are called high-risk types of HPV.

In women, genital warts can grow on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, and the cervix. The symptoms of genital warts in women include:

Lesions
Genital warts are flesh-colored or gray lesions, and typically develop on the skin of a woman's vagina, cervix, vulva or anus. They often appear as raised bumps, but may also be flat, with just a slight elevation from the skin surface.

Bleeding
When a genital wart is located in the woman's urethra (the opening from which urine exits the body), it may cause abnormal bleeding that is unrelated to the woman's menstrual periods.

Localized Itching
Genital warts may cause localized itching in the area of wart infection. This symptom is one of the easiest ones to overlook or disregard, because when it occurs, the genital wart infection may be mistaken for a skin rash.

Painful Intercourse
In the event that the genital warts develop in the vaginal canal, it may cause discomfort or pain during as well as after sexual intercourse. This may occur when the warts manifest in the entrance of the woman's vagina. When this happens, vaginal bleeding may also result from intercourse.

Complications
Some types of HPV have been found to cause cancer of the cervix and vulva. They are the main cause of cervical cancer.
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