Flexi Says: Infections with the human papillomavirus (HPV) are very common. HPV may cause genital warts, which are small, rough growths on the genitals. It may also cause cancer of the cervix in females. Genital herpes is s sexually transmitted infection caused by the herpes virus. Symptoms of genital herpes include painful blisters on the genitals. The blisters usually go away on their own, but the virus remains in the body, causing periodic outbreaks of blisters throughout life.