Genital warts are a type of sexually transmitted infection caused by certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) . They can appear on the vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, anus, or in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with an infected person. Genital warts look like skin-colored or whitish bumps that can be raised, flat, or shaped like cauliflower. They can be big or small, and you can have just one wart or a bunch of them. They are usually painless but can be itchy. In many cases, the warts are too small to be visible. Not all bumps on the genitals are warts, and there are other infections and normal skin conditions that might look like a wart but are something else. If you think you have genital warts, it’s important to get checked out by a nurse or doctor.