Genital warts, in some cases also
known as venereal warts or condylomata acuminate, are one
of the most common types of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
A genital wart is one of the infections
of the skin in the genital or anal area, as well as the mucous membranes of the
rectum, cervix, and vagina.
Genital
Warts, What are They?
A genital wart is a contagious,
projecting fleshy growth on the external
genitals or anus, consisting of fibrous overgrowths covered by a thickened
epithelium (outer layer).
Genital warts are due to sexual
contact with a person infected with human
papillomavirus (HPV); they
are usually benign (non-cancerous), but many subtypes have the potential for
malignant (cancerous) change.
Causes of genital warts
Genital warts, like other non-STD warts, are caused by various types of the
human papillomavirus (HPV) that infect the top layers of the skin.
There are over 100 different types of HPV that may cause warts, but only a
small number of strains can cause genital warts.
Those that do cause genital warts, unlike other wart-causing HPVs, are highly
contagious and are passed on through sexual contact with a person who is
infected.
VAGINAL ITCHING: POSIBLE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENTS
It is estimated that up to 65 percent of people who have sexual relations
with a person who has genital warts will become infected and develop them too.
Genital warts often appear about 3 months after infection - however, in some
cases, there may be no symptoms for many years.
Around 79
million Americans are currently infected with HPV. About 14 million
people become newly infected each year.
Risk
factors for genital warts
- Having unprotected sex
- Having unprotected sex with many different people
- Having sex with a person whose sexual history is unknown
- Oral sex raises the risk of genital warts developing in the mouth or throat
- Starting sexual relations at a young age
- Having stress and other viral infections (such as HIV or herpes) at the same time
Complications of genital warts
- Cancer - HPV infection is associated with cervical cancer, as well as cancer of the vulva, anus, and penis. Of course, not all HPV infections lead to cervical cancer, but it is crucial for a woman's long-term health that she has regular Pap tests.
- Pregnancy problems - there is a very small risk that, as a mother with genital warts gives birth, she may cause the baby to have warts in their throat (laryngeal papillomatosis). Also, hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy may cause genital warts to grow, bleed, or increase in number.
Diagnosing genital warts
- Women - genital warts may exist on the vulva (lips around the vagina), cervix (entrance to the uterus), upper thighs, inside the vagina, on the anus, and inside the anus.
- Men - genital warts may exist on the penis, scrotum (sack which holds the testes), urethra (tube that carries urine), upper thighs, on the anus, and inside the anus.
A patient should be examined by a
doctor to confirm a diagnosis of genital warts. People should go for a checkup
if:
- The patient or partner has genital wart symptoms
- The patient recently had unprotected sex with a new partner
- The patient or partner have had unprotected sex with somebody else
- The patient's partner tells him/her that he/she has an STD
- The patient has an STD
- The patient is pregnant
- The patient is trying to get pregnant
A doctor can usually diagnose
genital warts if any are visible. The examination may involve looking inside
the vagina or anus. On rare occasions, a biopsy of the wart may be taken.
Sometimes, even if no warts are
detected, the doctor or nurse may ask the patient to come back at a later date.
Visible warts might not appear straight after infection.
Menopause: Diagnosis And Treatment
What
do genital warts look like?
- They may appear as flesh-colored or gray swellings (bumps) in the patient's genital area
- If several are clustered together, they may have a cauliflower-like shape
- Some genital warts are so small that they can only be detected with a colposcopic exam of the cervix and vagina or a Pap smear
Treatment for genital warts
Doctors will only treat patients who
have visible warts. The type of treatment depends on:
- The location of the warts
- How many warts there are
- What the warts look like
Treatment is aimed at getting rid of
the visible warts and lowering the number of viruses present. If the amount of
viruses can be lowered, the patient's immune system has a better chance of
fighting them off.
The following
treatments are effective in getting rid of genital warts:
- Topical medication - a cream or liquid is applied directly onto the warts for a few days each week. This may be administered at home or at a clinic - depending on the kind of treatment. Treatment may continue for several weeks.
- Cryotherapy - the warts are frozen, often with liquid nitrogen. The freezing causes a blister to form around the wart. As the skin heals, the lesions slide off, allowing new skin to appear. Sometimes repeated treatments are needed.
- Electrocautery - electric current is used to destroy the wart. The patient will generally be given a local anesthetic.
- Surgery - the wart will be cut out (excised). A local anesthetic will be used.
- Laser treatment - an intensive beam of light is used to destroy the wart.
Menopause: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
It is not uncommon for doctors to
use more than one treatment at the same time. Treatments are not painful, but
may sometimes be uncomfortable, with some soreness and irritation for 1 or 2
days. OTC painkillers can be taken by patients after treatment.
Some patients who feel sore may find
that a warm bath helps. After a bath, the affected area must be dried
completely. Patients should not use bath oils, soap, or creams until well after
the treatment is completed.
OTC treatments for ordinary warts
(non-genital warts) are not suitable for the treatment of genital warts.
Genital warts will usually
eventually go away, even if left untreated. They do sometimes get bigger in
size and populate in larger numbers, without treatment.
Experts say that untreated genital
warts are not harmful to the health of the infected person, but they may be
uncomfortable and not look appealing. However, treating warts greatly reduces
the risk of passing them on to another person.
Pap tests and genital warts
A pap test, also known as a Pap smear, is a procedure to test for
cervical cancer in women. The test involves collecting cells from the woman's
cervix. Cervical cancer is a possible complication of HPV infection.
Women should have regular pelvic exams and Pap tests. These also help detect
cervical and vaginal changes which may be triggered by genital warts.
