Genital Warts are a type of Genital HPV infection which is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Human papillomavirus is the name of a group of viruses of which there are more than 100 various strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, or rectum. Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own.

 

Some of these viruses are called "high-risk" types, and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Others are called "low-risk" types, and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts.

 

HPV is a very common std with about 20 million people currently infected. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women will get a genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. Every year just over 6.0 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year. It is spread through sexual contact usually via the genital area. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; therefore, most infected persons are unaware they are infected, yet they can transmit the virus to a sex partner. Rarely, a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery. A baby that is exposed to HPV very rarely develops warts in the throat or voice box.

Genital warts are usually transmitted sexually. The wart virus, HPV, is passed on through having sex or very close contact with someone who already has warts. HPV can pass through small tears in the skin of your genitals that happen during sex. A wart will appear in the same area, usually within 3 months but sometimes not for years. People can transmit the virus most easily when warts are present, but a dormant virus can also be infectious. Therefore, preventing the spread of genital warts is extremely difficult. Condoms do not always offer 100 per cent protection against HPV, as they don’t necessarily cover all of the infected skin.

Most people who have a genital HPV infection do not know they are infected. The virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and usually causes no symptoms. Some people get visible genital warts, or have pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, vulva, anus, or penis. Very rarely, HPV infection results in anal or genital cancers.

 

Genital warts usually appear as soft, moist, pink, or flesh-colored swellings, usually in the genital area. They can be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, and sometimes cauliflower shaped. They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. After sexual contact with an infected person, warts may appear within weeks or months, or not at all.

 

Genital Warts on Penis	Genital Warts on Penis	Genital Warts on Vulva

Currently, there is no treatment for the HPV virus, but there are several for the warts; your doctor will help you choose the best approach for you taking into account the size and location of the warts.

 

Cream: You may be given a cream that you put on the warts or around your genitals and bottom over several weeks. It makes the skin peel off, along with the wart. It is generally not as irritating as the chemical paints. Cream is useful if there are a lot of warts. There is also a cream for genital warts that works by improving the immune system’s response to HPV. Cream treatment using Imiquimod (Aldara) is a topical immune response cream, applied to the affected area.

 

Another good proven treatment is 0.15% – 0.5% podophyllotoxin (also called podofilox) solution in a gel or cream. Marketed as Condylox (0.5%), Wartec (0.15%) and Warticon (0.15%),These are both patent applied treatments.

 

Chemical paint: a chemical solution is painted on the warts. It may be a bit painful or cause a burning feeling for a few days. This method is used for small warts. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant: some wart paints cannot be used at this time.

 

Freezing: liquid nitrogen is put on the warts. It will feel very cold, then throb and burn. A blister will form. Don’t touch or break the blister; it will heal in a few days. Keep it clean and dry. This treatment is usually used for large warts.

 

Burning: The doctor of nurse will give you an injection to numb the treatment area, then they will use a hot wire or laser to burn off the wart. This treatment is usually used for large warts.

 

It is very important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. You may need several treatments to get rid of the warts. Bear in mind that genital warts can come back in the first 2 years after treatment, especially in the first 3 months. If this happens you may need to be treated again.