What is molluscum contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum is an infection. It is caused by a virus. If you have it, you may have skin lesions that look like warts.

How do you get molluscum contagiosum?
You may get molluscum contagiosum by touching someone who is infected, usually by having sex.

How can you tell if you have molluscum contagiosum?
Molluscum contagiosum causes growths that may look waxy and pinkish-white. They are firm and have the shape of a dome with a dent in the centre. You can get them around your genitals, thighs, buttocks, and lower abdomen.

How do you get tested for molluscum contagiosum?
There is no special test. A doctor or nurse can tell if you have molluscum contagiosum by looking at the growths.

How is molluscum contagiosum treated?
The growths are not bad for your heath and they don’t have to be taken off. If you want the growth taken off, there are many different ways a doctor or nurse can do this:

They can put a special liquid on the growths. This usually has to be done many times before they go away.
They can freeze the growths with dry ice.
They can burn the growths.
They can remove the growths surgically.

How do you prevent passing on molluscum contagiosum to your partner(s)?
If your partner avoids contact with the growths, they will be less likely to develop molluscum contagiosum themselves.