Genital warts are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital or anal area. Sometimes they are so small that they go unnoticed. Genital warts are very common. They are usually painless but occasionally itch and cause some inflammation.
On males they may appear:
- on the penis
- on the scrotum
- on the groin
- on the thighs
- inside or around the anus
In females they may appear on:
- the inside of the vagina or anus
- the outside of the vagina or anus
- the cervix
Genital warts may also appear on the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with an infected person.
They occur as a result of a viral skin infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can be spread during oral, vaginal or anal sex, and by sharing sex toys. But you don’t need to have penetrative sex to pass the infection on because HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact.
It can take a long time, for warts to develop after infection with HPV. So if you’re in a relationship and you get genital warts, it does not necessarily mean your current partner is the source of infection.
HPV is most likely to be transmitted to others when warts are present, and it is still possible to pass the virus on before the warts have developed and after they have disappeared.
Some rare symptoms that accompany genital warts include:
- Increased dampness in the genital area near the warts
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Genital itching
- Vaginal bleeding during or after sex
Prevention
An HPV vaccine called Gardasil is available and can protect men and women from the most common HPV strains that cause genital warts, and also offers protection against strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer. It is recommended that HPV vaccinations be given to girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 12 as the vaccine is more effective before any possible exposure to HPV which most commonly occurs through sexual contact.
Always use male and female condoms. But be aware that condoms do not confer fool proof protection because the virus or warts can also be on the nearby skin.
Avoid sharing sex toys. If you absolutely must, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
Treatment
Regarding treatment of genital warts there is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that once the HPV virus has entered your bloodstream, there is no cure and as such one who is infected may have several outbreaks over the course of his/her lifetime. The good news is that there is treatment available for visible warts to minimise their appearance and reduce pain. If left untreated, genital warts may disappear, remain the same or increase in size/number.
Topical wart treatments, include:
- imiquimod (Aldara)
- podophyllin and podofilox (Condylox)
- trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
Most treatments for genital warts are very harsh and usually not available over the counter. They have to be prescribed by a doctor and sometimes also have to be administered by a doctor.
“Stubborn” warts may be removed with minor procedures, including:
- Freezing (cryosurgery)
- Burning (electrocauterization)
- Laser therapy
- Surgery
Because certain types of HPV that cause genital warts are also associated with cervical cancer and precancerous changes in the cervix, women with genital warts may need to have Pap smears every three to six months after their initial treatment to check for any changes in the cervix.
Genital warts are a good example of why it is important to “shine ya eye” when it comes to sex and sex partners. Be sure to inspect you/ your partners genital area from time to time for warts and seek treatment if any are observed.
