Genital Warts is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). It’s a subject that may cause people embarrassment and a topic that isn’t often discussed in public.
Despite this, genital warts are very common especially from ages 15-30 and a range of different treatments are available including natural home remedies and over- the-counter pharmacy medicines.
Also called condylomata acuminata or venereal warts, genital warts are caused by certain types of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can be passed on during sexual contact. There are more than 100 identified strains of this virus and that number continues to grow!
Genital warts are only the evidence and the symptom of genital HPV, it’s not the underlying cause and they are almost always benign (non-cancerous) and are not life threatening.
Genital warts may look like small cauliflower-shaped bumps or lesions that are flesh-coloured and they are found around the genital area – either externally on the vulva, the anus or the penis, or internally in the vagina or on the cervix.
They can be very small but in most cases can be diagnosed by your or nurse or doctor through visual examination.
Contagious
Genital warts are very contagious and are spread during skin to skin contact during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. Penetrative anal and vaginal sex in particular are the main ways that the warts are passed on.
Even when wearing a condom, genital warts are extremely easy to catch because a condom offers limited skin protection.
If infected with a type of HPV that causes genital warts, you may experience symptoms anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after initial exposure.
Symptoms
Most people with genital warts have no visible symptoms and may not know they are infected. For those with visible warts the symptoms may include itching, pain and bleeding.
Symptoms of HPV are usually more prominent in men than women because the warts are more visible to see on the shaft and base of the penis than in or around the vagina.
Genital warts are not usually painful, although symptoms can be uncomfortable like itching.
In women, symptoms are often most marked the week leading up to a menstrual bleed.
Genital Warts Treatment
Genital warts can be difficult to treat and are managed according to their size and location.
Treatment will be determined by the characteristics of the wart (like shape and size), the number of warts and their location.
Low risk genital warts treatment is designed to reduce the discomfort associated with the symptoms. Remember, the warts are the symptoms, not the cause. Treatment may remove the visible wart but not the virus.
Treatments for genital warts include:
- acid treatments
- topical creams
- laser therapy
Some treatments are required to be done in the doctor’s surgery and some can be managed at home.
Treatment options can also include Cryotherapy – where the warts are frozen off with liquid nitrogen or dry ice as well as various procedures used to excise the warts in more acute outbreaks.
If you are pregnant, treatment may take a different form so speak to your pharmacist or Doctor.
The sex partner of someone with genital warts need only examined if any warts or unusual bumps are found in or around the genital area. It seems that treatment may lower the chance of passing the infection to a sex partner.
Some people may elect not to seek treatment although many opt for treatment because genital warts can be unsightly and uncomfortable.
Treatments designed for the removal of warts on other parts of the body (such as feet and hands) is usually not recommended for the sensitive genital area.
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