Genital Warts (condylomata acuminata) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Genital warts are one of the most common types of sexually transmitted diseases. Genital warts affect the moist tissues of the genital area. Warts appear as bumps or growths. In women, genital warts may grow on the vulva, cervix, inside and surrounding the vagina and anus. In men, genital warts are less common. In men, genital warts can grow on the scrotum or penis. Very rarely warts may appear on the lips or in the mouth after oral sex with an infected person. Genital warts vary in size and may even be so small that you can't see them. Warts usually do not cause itching or burning.
What causes Genital Warts?
Genital Warts are caused by human papilloma virus. Human papilloma virus is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted infection in the world. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some of them cause the regular kind of warts you see on people's hands and feet. More than 30 types of HPV cause genital warts. The virus can live in the body for a very long time without causing any symptoms. Genital warts are not the same warts commonly found on hands and feet. You cannot develop genital warts from the virus that causes common warts.
How are genital warts spread?
HPV is a very contagious sexually transmitted disease. HPV may be more likely transmitted when warts are present, but the virus can be transmitted even when there are no visible symptoms. There is a 60% risk of getting the infection in a single sexual contact with someone who has genital warts. Genital HPV is passed by skin-to-skin and genital contact, primarily during vaginal or anal sex. It might also be possible to pass it during oral sex. Development of warts usually occurs within 1 to 6 months after infection. This virus requires moisture and cannot survive outside the body for any length of time. Not everyone with the genital wart virus will have signs of disease. If you are infected but have no symptoms, you can still spread HPV to your sexual partner and/or develop complications from the virus. Experts believe that when a wart is present, the virus is active and more likely to be contagious. When the wart disappears, the virus is still there but may be less likely to spread.
Treatment
In many people, the immune system eventually controls the HPV. In 50% of the patients the infection is gone after 8 months, less than 10% of people are infected longer than 2 years. However there is no cure that will get rid of the HPV completely. Treatments can only reduce the number of warts or help them disappear faster. But the viral infection itself can't be cured and continues to live inside your skin. Warts often return after they have been removed and you may need to have them removed more than once. Sometimes, if warts are left untreated, they may grow bigger and multiply. Genital warts can be treated with medications and surgery. Depending on factors such as the size and location of the genital warts, a doctor may offer you one of several ways to treat genital warts if they are visible. Topical medications (medications rubbed on the skin) can be used to remove warts. These medicines dissolve the warts and may have to be applied to the area a number of times for several weeks before the treatment is complete. - Aldara (Imiquimod) cream - appears to boost your immune system's ability to fight genital warts. It is applied three times a week for up to three months. It is most effective in women and least effective for penile warts.
- Podofilox (Condylox) - works by destroying genital wart tissue. Your doctor may want to administer the first application, and will recommend precautionary steps to prevent the medication from irritating surrounding skin. Never apply Podofilox internally.
- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) - this chemical treatment burns off genital warts. TCA must always be applied by a doctor.
Surgery may be necessary to remove larger warts, warts that don't respond to medications. Surgical treatments options include: - cryosurgery - this technique freezes the wart using liquid nitrogen
- laser treatment - light is used to destroy warts. This treatment is used for extensive or recurrent genital warts.
- electrodessication - this technique uses an electric current to destroy the warts
How to reduce the risk of getting genital warts?
The only effective way to prevent genital warts is not to have sex, or to only have sex with one uninfected partner who also only has sex with you. But there is no reliable way to assure that your sexual partner is not infected with the virus. Wearing condoms can help to significantly reduce your chances of getting HPV from someone who has it. However condoms will not protect you completely, because they don't cover all of the skin that can be infected with HPV. |
