Herpes vs Genital Warts: What’s the Difference?
Because many STDs share the same common symptoms, it can be hard to tell which you might have without taking a sexual health test. Two that often get confused with one another are genital warts and genital herpes. In this blog, our resident Medical Director, Dr Rashid Bani, explores the differences between the two, looking at transmission, symptoms, treatment, and more. So, let’s jump right in. What is the difference?
Genital warts are caused by certain strains of HPV and often appear as small, painless growths on the skin, while genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and typically leads to painful blisters or sores. Both are spread through skin-to-skin contact, but herpes is lifelong, whereas the body can often clear HPV over time.
Read on to learn more about genital warts and herpes, which of them is worse, and how they differ in appearance, testing, treatment, and transmission.
Are Genital Warts the Same as Herpes?
Both genital warts and genital herpes (HSV-2) are infections that are transmitted sexually. Whilst many people think they are the same thing, they are in fact two very different STDs. They are both spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected area, but differ in symptoms, treatment, and curability.
What are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are an STD that is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Whilst genital warts don’t often present symptoms, when it does, you’ll usually spot small, fleshy bumps around the genital region. Usually they aren’t painful, but can become irritated during sex or urination.
What is Genital Herpes?
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Its most well-known symptoms are painful blisters affecting the genitals and surrounding areas, although many people are symptomless. HSV is the same virus that causes cold sores to form on the lips and mouth and can affect any moist lining or mucous membrane – although this is often referred to as oral herpes/HSV-1.
Learn more about genital herpes on our dedicated advice page, or learn the difference between HSV-1 & HSV-2 in our helpful blog.
What’s the Difference Between Genital Warts & Genital Herpes?
Although genital warts and genital herpes are both common STIs that affect the genital area, they’re caused by entirely different viruses and behave in different ways. We’ve outlined the key differences below:
Transmission
Transmission is one of the only areas where genital warts and genital herpes are similar. Both are spread through contact with infected skin, usually during:
- Unprotected sexual intercourse, including anal, oral, and vaginal (although even if you wear a condom, there is still a risk of transmission as it doesn’t protect all exposed skin)
- The sharing of sex toys without washing in between
- Mutual masturbation, and then touching yourself without washing your hands
Incubation Period
From the initial human papillomavirus infection, it may take anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 months before you notice any symptoms of genital warts. As for herpes, most people experience symptoms 2 to 12 days after exposure to the virus.
However, it’s important to understand that many people with either genital warts or genital herpes may never experience any symptoms whatsoever. Without regular sexual health checkups, these individuals can unknowingly pass the infections on to others.
Symptoms
As we mentioned previously, even if you have either of these infections, you may never get any symptoms – so it’s important to get a regular sexual health test.
Genital warts usually appear as small, brown growths or bumps on or around the genital region. They’re often painless but may itch, bleed, or feel irritated, especially during sex or when rubbed by clothing.
Genital herpes causes painful blisters or sores on the genitals, buttocks, or thighs. These may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms, such as fever, swollen glands, and body aches – particularly during the first outbreak. To learn more, read this blog: What Does Herpes Look Like?
Testing
Testing for HPV/genital warts is usually done so with a visual exam or a cervical screening. During your screening, a medical practitioner will take swab samples of your cervix cells, which will be sent to a lab for testing.
As for genital herpes, there are a few different ways that the virus can be tested for. The most common being a swab sample of an open sore or a urine sample during an active outbreak. To diagnose past infections, a blood test can be done to detect IgG antibodies – if present, they indicate you have herpes.
Treatment / Curability
There’s currently no cure for HPV – the virus that causes genital warts – but in many cases, the body clears the virus naturally over time, often within a few years. Herpes, on the other hand, is a lifelong condition with no cure. However, both genital warts and herpes outbreaks can be managed with various treatments. These include antiviral medications, topical creams, and other symptom-relief options to help reduce discomfort and the risk of transmission.
Affects On Pregnancy & Newborns
Genital warts and HPV are generally not harmful during pregnancy or childbirth. Some women may notice an increase in genital warts during pregnancy, which can make them feel more irritated, but this usually isn’t a cause for concern. While it’s possible for HPV to be passed to a baby – potentially causing a rare infection in the throat or genitals – this is extremely uncommon.
Herpes doesn’t typically cause pregnancy complications, and many women with the virus go through pregnancy without any issues. However, if you have an active outbreak during vaginal delivery, the virus can be passed to your baby, leading to neonatal herpes. This can cause symptoms like fever, feeding difficulties, skin blisters, and – if left untreated – serious health complications. Fortunately, this risk can be reduced by taking antiviral medication during pregnancy.
If you’d like to learn more about the impact of herpes on pregnancies and newborns, read our helpful blog: Can Herpes Affect Fertility?
Can You Have Herpes & Genital Warts at the Same Time?
Like with any sexually transmitted infections, it is indeed possible to have multiple of them at the same time. The symptoms may overlap or be mistaken for one another, so the best way to know for sure is to get a full sexual health screening which will test for all common infections. This will confirm whether you have one or both infections, and your GP or sexual health nurse can then recommend the most appropriate treatment plan to manage symptoms and reduce the risk of transmission.
Book a Sexual Health Screening At a Clinic Near You
If you have been exposed to the herpes or HPV virus, or you think you have symptoms, it is vital that you get tested before partaking in any sexual activity. Here at Your Sexual Health, we have over 150 private sexual health clinics located across the UK, offering a range of comprehensive sexual health services. Each of our clinics offer a discreet, professional, reliable service, with speedy turnaround times.
Don’t want to visit a clinic? No problem – simply order one of our home testing kits directly to your door. If you need help choosing the test that best suits your needs, get in touch with our customer services team.
