WARTS, GENITAL (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS) - WatsonsHealth

WARTS, GENITAL (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS)

Overview & Facts

Genital warts are one of the most common forms of sexually transmitted diseases. Almost all sexually active individuals will end up infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes genital warts. Women are more prone than men to have genital warts.

Genital warts are found in the moist areas of the genitals. Genital warts may look like small and fleshy lumps with a cauliflower-like appearance. Most of the time, the warts are too little to be noticeable.

Like warts that show up somewhere else on your body, genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). A few strains of genital HPV can cause genital warts, while others can cause malignancy. Vaccination can help secure against specific strains of genital HPV.

Types & Symptoms

TYPES

In females, genital warts can develop on the vulva, vagina walls, the zone between the outside genital parts and the anus, the anal canal, and the cervix. In men, they may appear on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum, or the anus. Genital warts can likewise form in the mouth or throat of a person who has oral sex with an infected individual.

 

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of genital warts include the following:

  • Small, flesh-colored lumps in the genitals
  • A bunch of warts with a cauliflower-like shape
  • Itching or discomfort in the genital area
  • Bleeding during sexual contact

Genital warts might appear so small and flat that they can’t be visibly seen. Now and then, genital warts may form large groups.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

Since it’s frequently hard to identify genital warts, your doctor may apply an acidic  solution like acetic acid to  the genitals to whiten warts. At that point, he or she may see them through a unique amplifying instrument, called a colposcope.

Pap tests may be done to help detect changes in the vagina and cervix caused by genital warts

An HPV test may be requested in women aged 30 or older.

 

TREATMENT

If your warts don’t bother you, you may not require treatment. If you have symptoms such as itching or pain, or if they become bothersome, your doctor may recommend medicines or surgery. The lesions are likely to recur after treatment. There is no treatment for the virus itself.

Medications that can be used on the skin include imiquimod, podophyllin and podofilox. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) may also be used to burn off genital warts.

Sinecatechins cream can treat warts in the external genital or anal areas.

Surgery may involve freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), electrocautery, surgical excision, or laser treatments.

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