Genital Warts: The Causes and Treatments
In this article, you’ll learn and discover all about genital warts, the causes, and treatment.
Human Papillomavirus [HPV] is spread through sex activities. There are 100+ different strains of HPV and a minimum of 30 of them spread via sex. More than 50% of sexually active people are believed to have an infection with one virus strain. There are many questions regarding these sexually transmitted viruses.
- Are HPV and genital warts the same?
- Do genital warts increase your risk for cervical cancer?
- How do genital warts look like?
- Can the HPV vaccine prevent genital warts?
To get tested for HPV, you can visit Same Day STD Testing. You will visit a local lab for a test. If you suspect that you possibly have genital warts then you may also want to see your doctor. All warts are not obvious to the naked eye, so the doctor applies a feeble vinegar-like solution, which causes them to turn white. Even an internal examination of the anus is performed to check for concealed warts.
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Can Genital warts lead to cancer?
Not all HPV strains cause genital warts. Women have more symptoms of warts than men.
- HPV 6 & HPV 11 is liable for 90% of warts but HPV 16 & HPV 18 cause 70% of precancerous cervical lesions and cervical cancers.
- Other 20% cervical cancers are rooted by HPV 31, 33, 45, 52 & 58.
- Oral, anal, vulvar, penile, and vaginal cancer is caused because of HPV 16.
You see different HPV strains cause different symptoms. If you had sex with a person having a cancerous HPV infection, then you are at risk.
Genital warts risk factor
Your odds to develop genital warts include:
- Unprotected sex
- Oral sex
- Anal sex
- Childbirth
- Previous STD
- Genital-to-genital contact
- Multiple sex partners
HPV does not spread through vaginal fluid or semen, but via the skin. Even if you wear a condom skin to skin contact still occurs. Therefore, condoms do reduce the risk of HPV transmission but are unable to protect you completely!
How genital warts look like?
Genital warts are called condyloma accuminata. They are small flesh-colored or pinkish lesions, which appear in clusters. In women, they are commonly found on the labia. In men, they appear on a penis tip or testicle shaft. Warts even develop on the anus without anal sex. Genital warts can be caused in your mouth and throat if you had oral sex with a partner infected with HPV strain.
Will treatment remove genital warts?
Genital warts can go away spontaneously without treatment. Unfortunately, there is also a possibility they may grow and spread or stay and maintain their size. There are no OTC medicines for any kind of warts. You need a doctor’s visit because they are in the best position to recommend the kind of treatment suitable for your condition. Treatments include:
- Preparations that can be applied on your own
- The preparation that a physician needs to apply every week
- Cryotherapy for small warts [freezing]
- Laser treatment
- Electrocautery [burning]
- Injecting warts directly
- Surgical method
The treatment determined will be based on the wart size, location, and severity. There is no permanent treatment for HPV itself. Genital warts can reoccur. Therefore, make sure to take precautions like good hygiene and even use of a condom to be safer.
