QUESTION
If you get anal warts can you get rid of them? Even if they are removed by a doctor, do you still have the virus?

ANSWER
Anal warts can be removed by a doctor or with treatments applied at home. Depending on which treatment is used, there is a 10-30% chance of the warts coming back, although the virus will remain in your body forever.

The virus is most likely to be transmitted to your sex partners when the warts are actually present, but sometimes they are too small to see with the naked eye (subclinical). Very little is known about passing subclinical HPV to sex partners.

To your health,
Dr. K