This virus is the most commonsexually transmitted infectionin the U.S.
Different strains of HPV can infect the genitalia, mouth, and throat of men and women.
Causes of Genital Warts
Genital warts are resulting from human papillomavirus.
What They Look Like
Genital warts are small, flesh-colored, cauliflower-shaped growths.
They don’t cause pain or discomfort.
Males infected with HPV do not get warts as often as females do.
Warts can also appear on the scrotum or around the anus (even without anal sex).
Once you become infected, it can take up to three months for genital warts to appear.
Diagnosis
Anogenital warts can usually be diagnosed by visual inspection.
However, not all warts are obvious to the naked eye.
An internal examination of the anus may be carried out to check for hidden warts.
In some cases, a biopsy may be needed if the diagnosis is uncertain.
But in most cases, HPV goes away on its own and usually does not cause any health problems.
Genital warts can be treated, but they may reappear at a later stage.
Treatment for genital warts depends on size and location.
Consult your healthcare provider if you have an uncomfortable reaction to any of these treatments.
However, the drug is very expensive and research studies investigating effectiveness have yielded mixed results.
You may require more than one throw in of treatment to make the warts go away permanently.
Prevention
There is currently oneHPV vaccine(Gardasil-9) available in the U.S.
It is approved for males and females ages 9 to 45 to help prevent infection.
The vaccine is most effective when given before HPV exposure.
Therefore, it is primarily recommended for those 26 and younger.
Treatment for genital warts should be sought and completed before resuming sexual contact.
Can Condoms Prevent Genital Wart Infection?
A condom can provide some protection, particularly if it covers the area affected by warts.
However, it is still possible to transmit HPV even if there are no visible warts present.
Good hygiene is important.
If your partner uses vaginal deodorants, they should know that these can also be irritating.
Early detection of cancer increases cure rates.
World Health Organization.Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.
Yanofsky VR, Patel RV, Goldenberg G.Genital warts: a comprehensive review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.
2012;5(6):2536.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection.
2009;9:156. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-9-156
National Cervical Cancer Coalition.Cervical cancer overview.
