Molluscum contagiosum on the genitals and pubic area is a benign skin infection caused by a poxvirus that, in adults, usually spreads through sexual contact. It shows up as small, firm, pearly bumps with a central dip. Lesions often clear on their own, but genital bumps are typically treated to limit spread.
with the right treatment
testing, not symptoms, decides
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curable? | yes — with the right treatment |
| If you may have it | get tested — testing, not symptoms, decides |
The essentials: what genital molluscum is and how you get it
Molluscum contagiosum is caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus, a member of the poxvirus family that infects only the top layers of skin CDC. It's common, usually mild, and the bumps themselves are not dangerous. The virus spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact, and in adults that contact is often sexual, so bumps cluster on the genitals, pubic mound, inner thighs, and lower abdomen.
This separates the adult form from the childhood one. When kids get molluscum, the bumps tend to land on the trunk, arms, and face from ordinary play and shared towels. When an adult has them concentrated in the genital and pubic region, the usual route is sexual transmission, so a genital case is managed differently from a few bumps on a child's arm. The virus can also move from one part of your own body to another through scratching or shaving, a process clinicians call autoinoculation, so a single cluster can spread along a shaved bikini line.
Genital molluscum is not the same thing as genital warts (caused by HPV) or herpes, though all three can look similar at a glance. The defining feature of molluscum is the small central dimple. The virus does no internal harm; it lives in the skin, runs its course, and leaves.
Symptoms: what the bumps look and feel like
The classic lesion is a small, firm, dome-shaped bump measuring roughly 2–5 mm, from pinhead to pencil-eraser size, that may be white, pink, or skin-colored CDC clinical overview. Look for a tiny dip or pit in the center, and if you press a bump a soft, waxy core can be expressed. They can show up almost anywhere on the body, though rarely on the palms or soles, and in genital cases they favor the pubic area, shaft, scrotum, vulva, groin, and inner thighs.
Most bumps are painless. Some are itchy, and scratching them is the main way they multiply across nearby skin. If a lesion gets irritated or infected, it can turn red, swollen, and tender. People with weakened immune systems, including untreated HIV, may develop larger or more numerous bumps that are harder to clear. You can learn more about how the lesions evolve in our guide to the molluscum contagiosum bumps.
Testing and diagnosis
Molluscum is usually diagnosed by eye. A clinician recognizes the firm, dimpled bumps on exam, and that visual diagnosis is often all that's needed, with no blood draw and no swab. When a lesion is atypical, a clinician may scrape a bump and look at the core under a microscope to confirm it.
Because genital molluscum is sexually transmitted in adults and other infections can travel with it, a clinic visit is a good moment to screen for the rest. Most STI testing is simple: a urine cup, a self-collected swab, or a quick exam, with results usually back in a few days, and it's free or low-cost at health departments, Planned Parenthood, and Title X clinics. If you've had a recent exposure, check the timing first with our guide on when to test after exposure, and you can get tested for the common infections at the same time.
Treatment and removal
In otherwise healthy people, molluscum often clears without any treatment, with bumps resolving on their own in about 6 to 12 months. Genital lesions are still worth treating, both to clear them faster and to cut the risk of passing the virus to a partner or spreading it across your own skin.
Several in-office options remove the bumps directly. The choice depends on how many bumps you have, where they sit, and your tolerance for each method.
| Method | How it works | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cryotherapy | Freezes each bump with liquid nitrogen. | Brief sting; may need repeat visits. |
| Curettage | The bump is scraped off with a small instrument. | Quick; minor bleeding possible. |
| Laser | Targeted light destroys the lesion. | Useful for stubborn or numerous bumps. |
| Salicylic acid | A topical agent that breaks down the bump over time. | Applied over a course; slower but non-invasive. |
If your clinician prescribes a topical course or sets up repeat freezing sessions, follow the full plan even after the visible bumps fade, since molluscum can leave behind tiny lesions that flare later. Ask whether a sexual partner should be checked, since you can pass it back and forth. For a fuller breakdown of each approach, see our page on molluscum contagiosum treatment & removal options.
Prevention: stopping the spread
Molluscum spreads by contact, so the core habits are practical and physical. Wash your hands often, don't share towels or clothing, and keep the bumps covered with clothing or a bandage so they can't rub against someone else's skin. Don't scratch the lesions, and don't shave or wax over an area with bumps, since both drag the virus across fresh skin and seed new clusters.
- Cover genital and pubic bumps before sexual contact, and avoid skin-to-skin contact with the lesions until they clear.
- Condoms used every time lower the risk of the sexually transmitted infections that often travel alongside molluscum, though a condom only protects the skin it covers.
- Routine STI testing catches infections that have no symptoms, and that matters because molluscum and other STIs frequently overlap.
- Keep your own towels, razors, and washcloths separate while you have active bumps.
For step-by-step tactics on keeping the virus from migrating across your body, see our guide on how to stop molluscum from spreading on your body.
When to see a clinician
See a clinician if you notice firm, dimpled bumps in the genital or pubic area, if the bumps are spreading, or if any become red, painful, or pus-filled. Get checked promptly if you have a weakened immune system, since molluscum can be more extensive and harder to clear in that setting. A genital diagnosis is also a reason to screen for other STIs at the same visit.
This diagnosis is common and treatable, and clinics handle it routinely. Showing up early gets the bumps cleared and protects your partners sooner.