About Genital Warts

Get the Facts on Genital Warts Now

The human papillomavirus or HPV is responsible for causing genital warts in many people. While there are over one hundred types of HPV, only about forty types target the genital areas. The contraction of HPV has been linked to birth control pill use because of the tendency of the user to engage in unprotected sex with multiple partners.

These genital warts are usually painless although they are almost always associated with itching and feelings of being uncomfortable. The appearance of these warts may have single warts or groups of several warts in a clump upon the skin. Genital warts symptoms can include discharge fluid as well. Men and women both can contract genital warts from their sexual partners. The disease is especially troublesome for men when the genital warts cluster along the urethra impeding the passing of urine. As one would imagine, the enjoyment of sexual relations with anyone after you’ve been diagnosed with HPV is a thing of the past. Many people will not take the chance of having even protected sex with anyone diagnosed with HPV. Some of the causes of genital warts include having unprotected sexual contact with anyone who has contracted HPV. While certain types of HPV cause almost ninety percent of genital warts, these types are generally not associated with cancer-causing types of HPV. There are other types of HPV that have been closely linked to cervical and other cancers in women. Public awareness of these types of HPV has been strengthened in the media lately with programs aimed at getting many young girls immunized against HPV strains that can cause cancer. Genital warts treatments can include medications that target the HPV symptoms themselves. Although the visual symptoms of the disease are treated and go away, it’s important to realize that the disease is still within the body. Salves and ointments that effect relief to the itching often associated with HPV can be a welcome relief to people suffering with this disease. In women, genital warts have a similar appearance and usually occur in the moist areas of the labia minora and vaginal opening. Lesions visible on the outer genitals require a thorough examination of the vaginal canal, cervix, and anorectal area. Most female vaginal warts occur without symptoms. Rarely, women may experience bleeding after sexual intercourse, itching, or vaginal discharge.

HPV: The Cause of Genital Warts

Genital warts are one of the most recognizable signs of a person having HPV or human papilloma virus. The cause of HPV generally occurs when someone who’s been exposed to HPV has unprotected sex with another person and passes on the disease in that way. Millions of people are diagnosed with the disease every year and the number keeps growing as unprotected sex spreads in popularity, especially among young teens. Because many people with HPV may not immediately realize that they have the disease, the exposure to other sex partners goes on and the disease spreads in that way. The genital warts are unlike regular warts that can form upon the hands or feet. These warts are soft and moist and sometimes are filled with fluid, which can discharge. The warts can appear in the genital area within a few weeks or months after the body has been exposed to the virus. Warts can appear separately or can be in small clusters of raised areas on the skin. Women tend to get female genital warts around the vulva and labia areas as well as the cervix and anal area. Men generally get these warts on the scrotum or sides of the penis. When these warts appear at the tip of the penis they may impede normal urinary flow and may cause problems along the urethra. Because HPV infected people may not realize that they’re infected they may unknowingly spread the disease to new sexual partners and the cycle of infection goes on. The best way to diagnose genital warts is by visual inspection by a doctor or other health care provider. Visible warts can be removed by several methods including salves and creams, freezing of the warts and by excision processes in a health clinic or doctor’s office. No genital wart treatment works any better than any other. The only differences may be in speed and pain levels of the removal procedure.

How You Can Treat Genital Warts

One of the most common sexually transmitted diseases is Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. One of the other names that it is known by is genital warts. The disease is generally spread by sexual contact and the genital warts may take up to a year to appear after the initial exposure to the virus. This makes it hard to figure out who you contracted the virus from. Not everyone who has HPV develops the genital warts or exhibits any of the other signs of having this disease. The HPV treatment they choose may depend on the severity of their condition. There are natural genital warts treatment methods that can take away much of the discomfort of the disease. While some genital warts can be painless and simply present an uncomfortable appearance, there are some people who suffer through itchy and uncomfortable bouts of this disease. Genital warts freezing is one method of bringing the irritating condition under control. Usually administered in the outpatient section of the hospital or in a doctor’s office or clinic. Genital warts removal is not as hard to administer, as it was not too long ago. There have been many advances in the treatment methods for this condition. In order to prevent genital warts, unprotected sexual contact – even oral sex – is not a good idea. Being that this is the main way that the HPV disease spreads, this lifestyle choice will only make your chances of contracting the disease that much greater. It’s important that anyone who thinks that they may have the Human Papilloma Virus gets himself or herself tested for it as soon as possible in order to get treatments started as soon as possible. Being able to track down the person you may have contracted it from may also help to prevent it from happening to that person’s next sexual partner. Treatments will remove the visible warts but will not remove the virus from the body. Treatment is sometimes long and frustrating. Different treatments depend on the number and location of the warts. For external warts a special medication can be applied directly to the warts once or twice a week. Women with HPV on the cervix or anyone with many warts will be referred to a specialist. Treatment may include: i) cryotherapy - a procedure where the warts are "frozen" off with liquid nitrogen ii) laser therapy where a laser beam is used to destroy the warts, or iii) electrocautery which removes the infected cells with a special instrument. About 20 per cent of warts disappear without treatment, 60 per cent respond well to medication, and the remaining 20 per cent need specialized treatment.