Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) — but “HPV” is really a family of over 100 types.
The low-risk types 6 and 11 cause the large majority of genital warts and do not cause
cancer. The separate high-risk types (such as 16 and 18) are linked to cervical and other
cancers but usually don’t produce visible warts. Understanding which is which removes a lot of unnecessary fear.
HPV Is a Family of Viruses
There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some cause common warts on hands and feet, some cause genital warts, and a
smaller “high-risk” group is linked to certain cancers. They spread by skin-to-skin contact and are extremely
common. The key point for genital warts: the types that cause them are not the types that cause cancer. For everyday
(non-genital) warts, see the HPV and warts link.
The Wart-Causing Types
Around nine in ten genital warts are caused by the low-risk types 6 and 11. “Low-risk” means they
do not cause cancer — they produce the visible warts and nothing more sinister. They can, however, be passed on and
can recur, which is why treatment plus sensible prevention is the practical approach (see the
complete removal guide).
The High-Risk Types — a Separate Issue
A different group of HPV types (most notably 16 and 18) are “high-risk” because long-term infection can lead to
cervical and some other cancers. These usually do not cause visible warts. So having genital warts
doesn’t mean you have a high-risk infection — but it’s a good reminder to keep up with routine
cervical screening, which is designed to detect high-risk HPV and early cell changes regardless of
warts.
How the Vaccine Helps
The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) protects against the main wart-causing types (6 and 11) and several high-risk
cancer-causing types. It works best given before exposure, which is why it’s offered to teenagers, but it can still
be worth discussing with your doctor as an adult. Vaccination is prevention, not a treatment for existing warts.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which HPV types cause genital warts?
- Mostly the low-risk types 6 and 11, which together cause around 90% of genital warts. These types do not cause cancer — they produce the visible warts only.
- If I have genital warts, am I at risk of cancer?
- The types causing genital warts (6 and 11) are low-risk and do not cause cancer. The cancer-linked high-risk types are separate and usually don’t cause warts. Keeping up with routine cervical screening remains sensible, as it checks for high-risk HPV regardless of warts.
- Is the HPV vaccine worth having as an adult?
- It can be. The vaccine works best before exposure, but some adults still benefit — it’s worth discussing with your doctor. Remember it prevents infection with covered HPV types rather than treating warts you already have.
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