Description

Genital warts are one of the most common types of sexually transmitted infections. The virus that causes genital warts is called human papilloma virus (HPV). There are several types of HPV . And almost all sexually active people will contract at least one type at any time.

Genital warts affect the moist tissues of the genital area. It can be seen as small skin-colored bumps. The bumps can resemble a cauliflower. Often, the warts are too small to be seen with your eyes.

Some strains of HPV that can cause genital warts. Others can cause cancer. Vaccines can help protect against certain strains of genital HPV .

Symptoms

Genital warts can grow on the:

  • The Vulva.
  • The walls of the vagina.
  • The area between the external part of the genitals and the anus.
  • Anal Canal.
  • The neck of the uterus.
  • Of the tip or shaft of the penis.
  • The scrotum.
  • The anus.

Genital warts can also develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person.

The symptoms of genital warts include:

  • Small swelling in the genital area, which can be the color of the skin or of a different color.
  • A cauliflower-like shape caused by a couple of warts together.
  • Itching or discomfort in the genital area.
  • Bleeding with sex.

Genital warts can be so small and flat that you can't see them. But rarely, can be multiplied in large groups in people with a weakened immune system.

When to see a doctor

Consult a health professional if you or your partner are bumps, or warts on the genital area.

Causes

The human papilloma virus (HPV) causes warts. There are more than 40 strains of HPV that affect the genital area.

Genital warts are almost always transmitted by sexual contact. Even if the warts are too small to be seen, it could spread the infection to your sexual partner.

Risk factors

Most people who are sexually active will be infected with genital HPV at some point in time. Factors that may increase your risk of infection include:

  • Not to receive the HPV vaccine.
  • Having sex without a condom or with more than one partner.
  • After having another sexually transmitted infection.
  • To have sexual intercourse with a partner whose sexual history you don't know.
  • Being sexually active at a young age.
  • Having a weakened immune system, such as HIV or medications from an organ transplant.

Complications

HPV infection can cause health problems such as:

  • Cancer.Cervical cancer has been closely linked with genitalHPVinfection. Certain types ofHPValso are linked with cancer of the vulva, anus, penis and the mouth and throat. HPVinfection do not always lead to cancer. But it is important for women to have regular Pap tests, which check for cancer of neck of uterus. Pap tests are the key to those who have been infected with high-risk types ofHPV.
  • Problems during pregnancy.Rarely during pregnancy, warts can be bigger. This makes it difficult to urinate. The warts on the vaginal wall can hinder the stretching of the vaginal tissues during childbirth. Large warts on the vulva or in the vagina may bleed when they are stretched during childbirth. On very rare occasions, a baby born to a pregnant person with genital warts have warts in the throat. The baby may need surgery to keep the airway from being blocked.

Cancer. Cervical cancer has been closely linked to genital infection with the HPV. Certain types of HPV are also linked with cancer of the vulva, anus, penis and the mouth and throat.

The HPV infection does not always lead to cancer. But it is important for women to have regular Pap tests, which check for cancer of neck of uterus. Pap tests are the key to those who have been infected with high-risk types of HPV .

Problems during pregnancy. Rarely during pregnancy, warts can be bigger. This makes it difficult to urinate. The warts on the vaginal wall can hinder the stretching of the vaginal tissues during childbirth. Large warts on the vulva or in the vagina may bleed when they are stretched during childbirth.

On very rare occasions, a baby born to a pregnant person with genital warts have warts in the throat. The baby may need surgery to keep the airway from being blocked.

Prevention

Get the HPV vaccine to help prevent genital warts. And if you do have sex, limit your number of partners. It's safer to have sex with a person who only has sex with you. It is also a good idea to use a condom every time you have sex. But this does not protect against genital warts. This is because HPV can infect areas of the body that the condom does not cover.

Vaccination

In the united States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine HPV vaccination for girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 12. But the vaccine can be given as early as age 9 years.

It is ideal for children to receive the vaccine before they have sexual contact.

Most of the times, the side effects of the vaccine are mild. These include pain where the shot was given, headache, fever, or flu-like symptoms.

The CDC recommends that all 11-and 12 years of age should receive two doses of the HPV vaccine 6 to 12 months apart. The agency uses to recommend one of three doses. The younger children between the ages of 9 and 10, and teens ages 13 and 14, you may also receive two doses of the vaccine. Research has shown that two doses of work for children under the age of 15 years.

Adolescents and young adults who start the vaccine series later, at the age of 15 to 26 years of age, should receive three doses. The CDC recommends that you administer the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first. The third dose should be administered 6 months after the first.

The CDC's recommended to take HPV vaccine for all persons through age 26 who are not completely vaccinated.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Gardasil 9, the HPV vaccine for men and women between the ages of 9 to 45. If you're in age from 27 to 45, ask your health care team about the risks to decide whether you should receive the HPV vaccine.

Other vaccines against HPV are offered outside of the united States. Talk with your health care team about when to get vaccinated and how many doses are needed.

Diagnosis

Health professionals can often be found genital warts during a physical exam. Sometimes, a small piece of tissue that must be removed and verified by a laboratory. This is called a biopsy.

Pap tests

For women, it is important to have regular Pap tests. These tests can help find changes in the vagina and the cervix caused by genital warts. You can also find early signs of cancer of the cervix.

During a Pap test, a device called a speculum, held open the vagina. Then, the health care professional can view the passage between the vagina and the uterus, which is called the cervix. A long-handled tool you get a small sample of cells from the cervix. The cells are examined with a microscope to irregular changes.

The HPV test

Only some types of genital HPV have been linked to cervical cancer. A sample of cells from the cervix, taken during a Pap test, you can test these cancer-causing HPV strains.

Most of the times, this test is done to women 30 years of age and older. It is not as useful for younger women. That's because, for them, the HPV usually goes away without treatment.

Treatment

If the warts do not cause you discomfort, you may not need treatment. But the medicine or surgery can help to clarify an outbreak if you have itching, burning, and pain. The treatment can also help if you're worried about the spread of the infection.

Warts often return after treatment, though. And there is no treatment for the virus itself.

Drugs

Genital wart treatments that can go in the skin include:

  • Imiquimod (Zyclara).This cream appears to boost the immune system's ability to fight genital warts. Do not have sexual contact while the cream is on the skin. May weaken condoms and diaphragms and irritate your partner's skin. A possible side effect is a change in the color of the skin, where the medicine is used. Other side effects may include blisters, body aches or pain, cough, skin rash and fatigue.
  • Podophyllin (Podocon-25), and podofilox (Condylox).Podophyllin is a plant-based substance that destroys the tissue of the genital wart. A healthcare professional put this solution on your skin. Podofilox contains the same active compound, but you can put it on in the house. Never place podofilox on the inside of your body. In addition, this medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Side effects may include mild skin irritation, sores, and pain.
  • Trichloroacetic acid. This treatment chemical burns genital warts. Also you can treat warts on the inside of the body. Side effects may include mild skin irritation, sores, and pain.
  • Sinecatechins (Veregen). This ointment can treat genital warts on the body and the warts on or around the anus. Side effects may include a change in the color of the skin, itching or burning and pain.

Imiquimod (Zyclara). This cream appears to boost the immune system's ability to fight genital warts. Do not have sexual contact while the cream is on the skin. May weaken condoms and diaphragms and irritate your partner's skin.

A possible side effect is a change in the color of the skin, where the medicine is used. Other side effects may include blisters, body aches or pain, cough, skin rash and fatigue.

Podophyllin (Podocon-25), and podofilox (Condylox). Podophyllin is a plant-based substance that destroys the tissue of the genital wart. A healthcare professional put this solution on your skin. Podofilox contains the same active compound, but you can put it on in the house.

Never place podofilox on the inside of your body. In addition, this medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Side effects may include mild skin irritation, sores, and pain.

Do not try to treat genital warts with the wart removers that are sold in stores. These medicines are not intended for use in the genital area.

Surgery

You may need surgery to remove warts larger or those who do not improve with medications. If you are pregnant, you may need surgery to remove the warts that your baby may be in contact with during delivery. Surgery for genital warts include:

  • Freezing with liquid nitrogen. This is also called cryotherapy. Freezing causes a blister to form around the wart. As the skin heals, the warts off and the new skin appears. You might need to repeat the treatment. The main side effects include pain and swelling.
  • The electrocautery. This procedure uses an electrical current to burn off the warts. You may have pain and swelling after.
  • The surgical excision. Warts can be cut during the surgery. You will need a medicine called anesthesia that prevents you from feeling pain during the treatment. You may have pain after.
  • The laser treatments. This approach uses an intense beam of light. It can be expensive. Most often, it's saved for warts that are extensive and difficult to treat. Side effects can include scarring and pain.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your health care professional.

What you can do

Make a list of your:

  • Symptoms and when they began. Describe your symptoms. If you have a sexual partner, keep in mind if your partner has had similar symptoms.
  • Sexual History. Include any situation that could have exposed to infections. This is key if you've had sex without a condom or sex with a new partner.
  • Key medical information. Includes other condition that is being treated.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements that you take. Include the dose.

For genital warts, some basic questions to ask your health care professional include:

  • What tests do I need?
  • I must also be tested for other sexually transmitted infections?
  • What treatment do you recommend, if any?
  • How soon after the start of treatment can I expect to get better?
  • Am I contagious? How can I reduce the risk of transmission of this infection to other people?
  • In the event that my partner to be tested for this condition?
  • When can I safely have sex again?
  • My genital warts come back?
  • Am I at risk of health problems related to genital warts?
  • How often should I be screened for other health problems related to genital warts?
  • There is printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Feel free to ask questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask questions such as:

  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Do you practice safe sex? Have you always done that?
  • Have you recently had sexual intercourse with a new partner?
  • Your partner has been tested for sexually transmitted infections?
  • Have you had the HPV vaccine? When?
  • Are you pregnant or plan to become pregnant?
The symptoms and treatment of Genital warts