Genital warts are soft growths that appear on the genitals. They can cause pain, discomfort, and itching. Genital warts a sexually transmitted infection STI caused by certain low-risk strains of the human papillomavirus HPV. These are different from the high-risk strains that can lead to cervical dysplasia and cancer. Men and women who are sexually active are vulnerable to complications of HPV, including genital warts.
HPV infection is especially dangerous for women because some types of HPV can also cause cancer of the cervix and vulva. Genital warts are transmitted through sexual activity, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex. You may not start to develop warts for several weeks or months after infection. They may be very small and the color of the skin or slightly darker.
The top of the growths may resemble a cauliflower and may feel smooth or slightly bumpy to the touch. They may occur as a cluster of warts, or just one wart. Genital warts may also appear on the lips, mouth , tongue, or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with a person who has HPV.
Most cases of genital warts are caused by HPV. There are 30 to 40 strains of HPV that specifically affect the genitals, but just a few of these strains cause genital warts. In fact, in most cases, the virus goes away on its own without causing any health problems. Genital warts are usually caused by strains of HPV that differ from the strains that cause warts on your hands or other parts of the body.
Any sexually active person is at risk of getting HPV. However, genital warts are more common for people who:. HPV infection is the main cause of cancer in the cervix. It can also lead to precancerous changes to the cells of the cervix, which is called dysplasia. Other types of HPV may also cause cancer of the vulva, which are the external genital organs of women.
They can also cause penile and anal cancer. To diagnose this condition, your doctor will ask questions about your health and sexual history.
Your doctor will also perform a physical examination of any areas where you suspect warts may be occurring. They may apply a mild acidic solution, which helps to make the warts more visible.
Your doctor may also do a Pap test also known as a Pap smear , which involves taking a swab of the area to obtain cells from your cervix. These cells can then be tested for the presence of HPV. Certain types of HPV may cause abnormal results on a Pap test, which may indicate precancerous changes. If your doctor detects these abnormalities, you may need either more frequent screenings to monitor any changes or a specialized procedure called a colposcopy.
This determines what strain of HPV you have in your system. If this is not possible, a condom should be worn. Q: Genital warts during pregnancy — should I be worried?
A: Generally, no. It is unlikely that HPV will be passed from mother to baby before or during childbirth. Q: Can genital warts be contracted from oral sex? To prevent the spread of genital warts through oral sex, a condom should be worn at all times. Q: Can genital warts cause cancer?
A: While genital warts themselves cannot be said to cause cancer, some strains of the HPV virus can cause certain types of cancer. Cervical cancer and anal cancer are often linked to HPV infection. NHS Choices. Accessed June 23, In the know ZONE. Accessed June 26, National Cancer Institute. This website meets the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. What are genital warts? Symptoms of genital warts Most people who contract HPV will not develop any visible symptoms.
Causes of genital warts Human papillomavirus HPV causes genital warts. Transmission Genital warts are spread through skin-to-skin contact, primarily through oral, vaginal or anal sex.
Latency and reappearance HPV naturally clears from the body in two years or under in 90 percent of cases. Genital warts treatment There is no cure for genital warts — no way to remove HPV from the patient's system — meaning that treatment is focussed on removing the warts or preventing them from spreading.
If the patient does opt for treatment, there are a number of different options to explore: Application of antiviral gels or creams. These solutions are marketed in a number of different varieties but are generally applied by the patient themselves over the course of a number of days or weeks.
Side-effects may include itching and mild scarring. Cryotherapy freezing. Liquid nitrogen is used to rapidly freeze the affected area, resulting in a mild burning sensation. This procedure is usually used for small warts around the penis or vulva. The warts are surgically removed while the patient is under a local anesthetic.
Typically used for small, hardened warts. Generally used for large clusters of warts that have not responded to other treatments, this option involves cutting away the bulk of the warts, pressing a metal rod against the affected area and sending an electric current through it to burn away what remains. Laser surgery.
Generally used for large clusters of warts or those that are difficult to reach inside the anus, for example. No, but we have more statistics on women because doctors tend to see women much more routinely. A fact I find sad: In most of the clinical trials, the guys have had their warts a lot longer than the women have. Can Pap tests detect HPV warts? Pap tests detect abnormalities in cervical cells that may be cancerous or precancerous.
A newer HPV test detects the presence of the virus in cervical cells. You want to have them professionally diagnosed. They can look soft and fleshy, almost like a skin tag , or they can be rock-hard and large with branches like a cauliflower. When you feel a bump, especially around the opening of the vagina, or behind the vagina, see your doctor.
But the HPV warts that are really hard to treat have been there for months and have hardened. Most women will get the HPV virus and their body can handle it. But women with persistent HPV infections are the ones we want to identify. I want to see a young woman three or four years after her first sexual encounter to see if her body can handle the virus. Is she having persistent infections, which could be a predictor of cervical cancer? Those are the women we want to find, so we can treat any precancers.
When a woman has visible HPV warts, should she stop having sex? Once you have HPV warts, are you always contagious? You spread more viral particles when you have a concentration of warts. Get rid of the warts. We can treat fresh warts with easy topical therapies. There are three creams your doctor can prescribe for external genital warts that can be applied at home. Podofilox works by destroying the skin of the wart.
Sinecatechins is a green tea extract, which is applied three times a day for up to 16 weeks. Green tea is an antioxidant. You use it in ointment form sold as Veregen.
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