Genital warts are caused by infection with a subgroup of the human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Another subgroup of the HPVs that infect the anogenital tract can lead to precancerous changes in the uterine cervix and cause cervical cancer. Other types of HPV have been linked to oropharangeal cancer.
Vaccines can protect against many genital-wart-causing strains of HPV. Genital warts can be treated with prescription medication applied directly to the warts or can be surgically removed.