Diagnosis and treatmentĭiagnosing anal warts is a relatively simple process. And of course, by reducing your risk of spreading anal warts, you could also reduce your partner’s cancer risks, as well. Having anal warts diagnosed early means you can begin managing them in the initial stages, before the warts have a chance to progress to cancerous stages. The American Cancer Society also notes that while anal cancer is relatively uncommon, both the disease rate and its death rate have been rising in recent years, making treatment of anal warts even more important. It’s estimated that about 91% of all cases of anal cancer are caused by HPV. The American Cancer Society says HPV infection is the “most important risk factor” for developing anal cancer, which affects almost 9,000 people each year in the US. But probably the biggest reason to have warts diagnosed early is to help reduce your risk of developing anal cancer. Keeping warts from spreading and growing is important. Not only does that mean you’re more likely to experience unpleasant symptoms, but when additional areas are affected, it may also make it easier for you to spread the virus to other people. Plus, without treatment, warts can spread to other areas of your body, including your genitals.

Without medical attention, your warts could grow and become symptomatic, causing pain, bleeding, and other issues. Of course, just because anal warts may not cause any pain or other symptoms, that doesn’t mean it’s OK to let them go untreated. Sometimes, even larger warts cause no noticeable symptoms.īecause warts can be hard to diagnose on your own, it’s important to schedule an office visit at the first sign of any symptom, or if you have genital warts, you’ve been diagnosed with HPV, or you’ve had high-risk sex. With larger warts or clusters of small warts, you may notice a bump or lump when showering or when cleaning after a bowel movement. When symptoms do occur, they can include: While they’re small, the symptoms they cause can be subtle. Warts often blend in with your skin tone, but sometimes, they may appear darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. Symptoms of anal wartsĪnal warts begin as very tiny lumps or bumps, growing larger over time. If you have anal warts, here’s what you should know. Tarlowe, MD, uses the most current diagnostic and treatment techniques to help patients manage their anal warts, providing custom care options aimed at improving patients’ overall health and wellness. The key is to have them diagnosed as early as possible.Īt our offices in White Plains and on Manhattan’s Upper East Side of New York City, Michael H. Like genital warts (which are also caused by HPV), anal warts can be managed. Many people with HPV suffer from a relatively common “side effect” of the infection - anal warts. Almost 80 million Americans are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), making HPV the most common sexually-transmitted disease (STD) in the United States.

Hemorrhoid cream for warts