Genital Warts in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) seen in primary care and sexual health clinics across Grand Rapids. They are caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that is very common among sexually active people in Michigan and nationwide.

Cold West Michigan winters and indoor socializing don’t change how HPV spreads, but they can increase close contact and sexual activity in indoor settings, which may raise exposure risk. Understanding how genital warts and HPV work can help you protect your health and know when to seek care from a Grand Rapids provider.

What Is HPV?

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a group of more than 200 related viruses.

  • About 40 HPV types can infect the genital area (vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, anus, and surrounding skin).
  • Only some of these types cause visible genital warts.
  • Other types are “high-risk” and can cause changes in cervical cells and, over many years, may lead to cervical cancer if not detected and managed.

Most sexually active people in Grand Rapids will be exposed to HPV at some point, often in their teens or 20s. In most cases, the immune system clears the virus naturally without causing any symptoms.

About Genital Warts

Genital warts are growths on the skin around the genitals or anus. They are usually caused by HPV types 6 and 11.

What Genital Warts Look and Feel Like

Genital warts can be:

  • Flat or raised
  • Single or multiple
  • Smooth, bumpy, or cauliflower-like in appearance
  • Skin-colored, pink, or slightly darker than the surrounding skin

They can appear:

  • On the vulva, vagina, or cervix
  • On the penis or scrotum
  • Around the anus
  • In the groin area
  • Occasionally inside the urethra or rectum

Most genital warts are:

  • Painless
  • Not itchy
  • Not dangerous in themselves

Some people may notice discomfort, bleeding, or irritation if warts are large or located in sensitive areas.

Subclinical HPV Infection (HPV Without Visible Warts)

HPV is often a “subclinical” infection. This means:

  • You can carry HPV on your genital skin or cervix even if you do not see any warts.
  • Subclinical HPV infection is common in people of all genders.
  • It is often detected during cervical screening tests in people with a cervix.

Because HPV can be present without visible warts, it’s possible to have the virus and spread it without realizing it.

How Genital Warts and HPV Spread

HPV spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact in the genital area, including:

  • Vaginal sex
  • Anal sex
  • Genital-to-genital contact (even without penetration)
  • Oral sex (HPV transmission to the mouth is possible but less common for genital wart types)

Important points:

  • HPV can spread even when there are no visible warts.
  • Warts may appear within a few weeks after contact with someone who has HPV, but they can also take months to appear—or may never appear at all.
  • Because of this delay, it’s often impossible to know exactly when or from whom you got HPV.

In a city like Grand Rapids, with a large young adult and college-age population, HPV and genital warts are commonly diagnosed in people in their late teens through early 30s, but they can occur at any age.

Does the Immune System Clear HPV?

For most people:

  • The immune system clears HPV naturally over time, usually within 1–2 years.
  • Even after warts are gone, HPV may remain on the skin for some time.
  • Once the immune system clears the virus, it usually does not come back with the same type.

However:

  • People with weakened immune systems (for example, due to HIV, certain medications, or chronic illnesses) may have more persistent HPV infections and more frequent recurrences of genital warts.

Treatment for Genital Warts in Grand Rapids

Important: Treatment Does NOT Remove the Virus

All current treatments for genital warts:

  • Remove or destroy visible warts
  • Do NOT completely remove HPV from your body

Your immune system is responsible for eventually clearing the virus. Treatment is mainly for:

  • Cosmetic reasons
  • Comfort (if warts are painful or irritating)
  • Reducing the amount of visible virus-containing tissue

Always Consult a Healthcare Provider

Over-the-counter wart treatments (for hands or feet) are not suitable for genital warts and can cause serious irritation or damage to delicate genital skin.

In Grand Rapids, you can discuss treatment options with:

  • Your primary care provider or family doctor
  • OB/GYNs at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department sexual health services
  • Planned Parenthood or local community health clinics

Common Treatment Options

Your provider will recommend a treatment based on:

  • Location and number of warts
  • Size and shape of warts
  • Your general health and whether you are pregnant
  • Your personal preferences

1. Cryotherapy (Freezing)

  • Warts are frozen with liquid nitrogen in a clinic.
  • The cold destroys wart tissue.
  • You may need several sessions, usually spaced a few weeks apart.
  • Mild pain, blistering, or temporary skin discoloration can occur.

2. Podophyllotoxin (Patient-Applied Solution)

  • A topical solution or gel applied directly to the warts at home.
  • Used for multiple warts that are easy to reach.
  • Applied in cycles (for example, a few days on, then a few days off) as directed by your provider.

Important:

  • Podophyllotoxin must not be used during pregnancy.
  • Care must be taken to avoid getting the medicine on healthy skin.

3. Imiquimod Cream

  • A prescription cream that stimulates your immune system to fight the virus.
  • Typically applied once a day, 3 times a week, for up to 16 weeks (or as directed).
  • Can cause redness, irritation, or mild soreness where it is applied.
  • Not recommended during pregnancy.

4. Laser or Diathermy (Surgical Removal)

  • Used for larger or resistant warts, or when other treatments haven’t worked.
  • Performed in a hospital or surgical setting (for example, at Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids).
  • Usually done under local or general anesthesia.
  • Removes visible warts but does not remove HPV from your body.

Recurrence of Genital Warts

Even after successful treatment:

  • HPV may remain on the skin for a period of time.
  • Warts can reappear weeks or months later.

This does not necessarily mean:

  • You were reinfected, or
  • Your partner has been unfaithful.

In most cases, with time, the immune system clears the virus and warts stop recurring.

HPV, Genital Warts, and Cervical Cancer

The HPV types that cause visible genital warts (mainly types 6 and 11):

  • Do not cause cervical cancer.

However, other HPV types (especially types 16 and 18, and several others):

  • Can infect the cervix
  • Can cause cell changes that, over many years, may lead to cervical cancer if the body does not clear the virus

Because of this, cervical screening is essential for anyone with a cervix who has been sexually active, even if:

  • You have had the HPV vaccine
  • You have never had genital warts
  • You are in a long-term relationship

Cervical Screening in Grand Rapids

In the United States, cervical cancer screening is typically done with:

  • A Pap test (Pap smear)
  • Sometimes combined with an HPV test (co-testing), depending on your age and guidelines

General recommendations (may vary slightly by provider):

  • Start screening at age 21
  • Continue through age 65, at intervals recommended by your provider (often every 3–5 years, depending on test type and results)

How the Test Is Done

  • A doctor or nurse uses a small brush or spatula to collect cells from your cervix.
  • In some clinics, you may be offered self-collection of a vaginal sample for HPV testing, under guidance.
  • The sample is sent to a lab to check for HPV and/or abnormal cells.

Most HPV infections found on the cervix:

  • Clear naturally without treatment.
  • If high-risk HPV or abnormal cells are found, your provider may recommend closer monitoring or treatment to remove abnormal cells.

People who have had a hysterectomy may still need screening depending on:

  • The type of hysterectomy
  • Their history of cervical cell changes or cervical cancer

Discuss this with your Grand Rapids healthcare provider.

HPV Vaccines in Grand Rapids, MI

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

Gardasil®9

Gardasil®9 is the HPV vaccine most commonly used in the United States. It protects against 9 HPV types:

  • Types 16 and 18 – cause about 70% of cervical cancers
  • Types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 – cause an additional ~15% of cervical cancers
  • Types 6 and 11 – cause almost all genital warts

Gardasil®9 has largely replaced the original Gardasil vaccine.

Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?

According to U.S. guidelines:

  • Routine vaccination:
    • Recommended for all children at ages 11–12 (can start as early as age 9).
  • Catch-up vaccination:
    • Recommended up to age 26 if not vaccinated earlier.
  • Ages 27–45:
    • Vaccination may be considered based on individual risk and shared decision-making with a provider.

In Grand Rapids, you can get HPV vaccination through:

  • Pediatricians and family doctors
  • OB/GYN clinics
  • Kent County Health Department immunization services
  • Community health centers and pharmacies

If you are immunocompromised, you may need a 3-dose schedule for full protection.

HPV Vaccine and Adults Over 26

The vaccine is most effective when given before sexual activity begins. For adults 27 and older:

  • Many have already been exposed to HPV, so the benefit is lower.
  • However, vaccination may still provide protection against HPV types you haven’t yet encountered.
  • Talk with your Grand Rapids provider about whether the HPV vaccine is right for you.

Preventing the Spread of Genital Warts

You can reduce (but not completely eliminate) your risk of getting or spreading HPV and genital warts by:

  • Using external (male) or internal (female) condoms correctly and consistently
  • Limiting your number of sexual partners
  • Avoiding sexual contact when visible warts are present (until evaluated by a provider)
  • Getting vaccinated with Gardasil®9 if you are eligible
  • Having regular STI and cervical screening as recommended

Remember:

  • Condoms do not cover all genital skin, so HPV can still spread through uncovered areas.
  • Even when there are no visible warts, HPV can still be transmitted.

If you or your partner have genital warts, the benefit of condoms for preventing recurrence between the same partners is less clear, but condoms still help reduce the risk of other STIs and are generally recommended.

Genital Warts and Relationships

If you have genital warts:

  • It does not mean you or your partner have been unfaithful.
  • HPV can be present for months or years before warts appear.
  • Many people never know when or from whom they got HPV.

Talking with your partner(s) about HPV and genital warts can feel uncomfortable, but open communication helps:

  • Reduce anxiety and misunderstandings
  • Make informed decisions about testing, treatment, and condom use
  • Support each other through treatment and follow-up

Your Grand Rapids healthcare provider or a counselor can help you with strategies for these conversations.

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you think you might have genital warts, or you want HPV testing, vaccination, or cervical screening, you can contact:

  • Your primary care doctor or family medicine clinic
  • OB/GYN clinics at:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department – sexual health and immunization services
  • Planned Parenthood and other community health centers in the Grand Rapids area
  • Urgent care clinics (for initial evaluation, with follow-up at a primary or specialty clinic)

These services can:

  • Examine and diagnose genital warts
  • Offer treatment options
  • Provide HPV vaccination
  • Arrange cervical screening and follow-up
  • Offer confidential STI testing and counseling

If you’re a teen or young adult, school-based health centers and youth-friendly clinics in Grand Rapids can also help you access confidential sexual health care.

Key Points to Remember

  • Genital warts are caused by certain types of HPV and are very common.
  • Many people have HPV without visible warts (subclinical infection).
  • HPV spreads through skin-to-skin genital contact, even without penetration or visible warts.
  • Treatment removes visible warts but does not remove HPV from your body.
  • Warts can come back, but most people eventually clear the virus naturally.
  • The HPV types that cause genital warts do not cause cervical cancer, but other high-risk types can.
  • Regular cervical screening and HPV vaccination are crucial for preventing cervical cancer.
  • Over-the-counter wart treatments are not safe for genital warts—always see a healthcare provider.
  • In Grand Rapids, you can access care through local hospitals, clinics, and the Kent County Health Department.

If you notice any new genital bumps, growths, or changes, schedule an appointment with a Grand Rapids healthcare provider for evaluation, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment. Early assessment can provide peace of mind and help protect both your health and your partners.