Hello, im a 24 year old male and I was diagnosed with genital warts, they are very small and on the base of the penis. I was prescribed Podofilox which I applied for one cycle. Im darker skin and the irritation and effect on my other healthy skin was alarming. Ive heard many things on this site and others from doctors that say genital warts and HPV are no big deal and no treatment is an option, as well as dont change any sexual activity because of it. And ive also heard that you should not have sex while you have visible genital warts. Im NOT in a relationship so I would be talking about new sexual partners. 

Welcome to the Forum.  Thanks for the question.  Untreated genital warts are infectious for sexual partners.  On one hand, most unvaccinated persons will get HPV infection at some point so we do not feel strongly that abstinence is required.  Consistent condom use will reduce your risk for warts and other HPV infections as well as all STIs, including HIV and we recommend it but do not feel that it is absolutely required for persons with HPV including warts.  It would be optimal to inform future unvaccinated sexual partners of your warts unless they are treated or have gone away -once again, we acknowledge that this is a personal choice but it is the right thing to do.  For warts to resolve without therapy typically takes 1-3 years. 

HPV can be transmitted from your warts to others who perform oral sex on you.  On the other hand, your own infection is a local process and thus the fact that you have genital warts does not mean that you have oral infection.  Your warts will typically not spread to other parts of your body although, on occasion, shaving over warts can spread them- we recommend against shaving over warts. 

All treatments for visible genital warts are destructive and so there is a small risk of discoloration related to the treatment although most people do not experience scarring or discoloration of the skin.  If the skin does become discolored, this typically resolves over time.  Given the concerns that you have expressed, treatment is probably a good idea but this is a personal choice and is not absolutely necessary.  Visible warts can be treated with liquid nitrogen freezing, with excision or cautery, with podofilox, with imiquimod, or with other local therapies.  The success rates of all treatment is about the same.

I hope that this information is helpful.  I would suggest that you read other post on our forum for addition information and for confirmation of what I have just said. There are many other posts and we make them available to others because we feel the information is often helpful.  EWH

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Are the actual warts themselves more infectious and if I was asymptomatic with the virus? Also I have read many studies that claim warts and HPV tend to go away by themselves 64% at 6 months, 80% at 1 year and 90% at 2 years. Is this correct? since you're stating 1-3 years.

The data on the clearance of HPV infections are not well described for intervals of six months or a year. Most of the data on clearance reflects studies of cervical infections in women. Most genital warts will however go away, most typically in a few (1-3) years.  Treatment will certainly make the warts ( and virus) go away faster and when warts have been treated and have gone away a person should be considered non-infectious. Visible genital warts are primarily a cosmetic problem since they do not cause potentially severe consequences such as cancer. The types of HPV which causes visible warts are different than the pipes which cause cancer.---

You mention treatment will make the warts AND virus go away faster. How can this be? is it because the immune system is alerted of the damage to the warts, therefore identifies the virus and therefore looks for it in the body in general?

The warts are part of the viral process.  Elimination of warts is consistent with control of the virus. ---