Genital Warts
Genital WARTS are the most common viral SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE in the United States, outranking even genital HERPES; almost two million Americans are treated for genital warts each year. Most cases are diagnosed in teenage girls; older women may have the virus, but their immune systems control the outbreaks. Those who are most at risk are people with more than one sex partner and those who do not use condoms.
Cause
Eight different types of human PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) are associated with genital warts; a few (types 16 and 18) cause cervical cancer. These types of warts are not usually visible. The different types of warts can only be distinguished in a research lab.
The wart virus is transmitted during unprotected sex with an infected partner. A person is infectious when visible warts are present in the genital area; however, even if the warts have disappeared, the virus may still be present in the body.
Symptoms
Genital warts are pink to gray, soft, raised or flat, and may cause itching, burning, or bleeding around the genital area. They may appear alone or in clusters, ranging in size from pinpoint to a small mass. Boys and men usually notice the warts on the pen!s, although they can also appear in the anus or the urethra and are often completely missed. Girls and women may find warts on the vulv@, vag!na, or @nus; occasionally they may occur on the cervix. Incubation period is unknown. The warts are not painful, but they can grow and block the openings of the vagina, anus, urethra, or throat.
Diagnosis
A doctor can diagnose the condition from the wart’s appearance; a magnifying glass may be needed to find small warts. Odd-looking warts may require biopsy.
Treatment
There is no cure that will remove all traces of the virus from the body. Instead, treatment aims at removing or shrinking the warts, whether by freezing, using a topical solution or a laser, or surgery. Unfortunately, warts often reappear after treatment.
Infected partners should avoid sex when the warts are large, bleeding, or painful. A doctor should be consulted if warts block rectal openings or if there is trouble urinating.
Podophyllin topical solution is applied by a doctor to external genital warts only (it should not be used in the cervix, rectum, or during pregnancy). The solution must not touch the surrounding skin, as it can be irritating. If there are no results after four weeks, another treatment method should be used. Podofilox 0.05 percent is a prescription topical solution that can be applied by the woman for external warts. It works by killing wart tissue.
Cryotherapy freezes the wart off; it is sometimes used for cervical or rectal warts. Laser therapy is performed in a doctor’s office and is sometimes used for cervical warts. Electrosurgery is also performed in a doctor’s office for rectal warts. As a last resort, a doctor may turn to surgical removal if the warts are very large or causing problems. Still, 20 percent of the time warts grow back after this treatment.
Prevention
All women with anogenital warts need a Pap test every six to 12 months to detect early signs of cervical cancer. Young girls with cervical HPV should have regular Pap tests to discover any changes in the cervix. Most cervical problems take care of themselves, but those with a positive Pap test should seek medical help regularly to monitor the changes.
Anyone who has genital warts or who has been diagnosed in the past should always use a condom during sexual intercourse.
Complications
Some strains of the HPV virus are associated with a higher risk of cervical cancer, especially among women with persistent warts and many sex partners. However, most girls and women who have genital warts are not considered to be at increased risk for developing cervical cancer. The association between this type of cancer and HPV is not well understood.
Occasionally, babies exposed to warts in the birth canal develop warts in the throat, and a few develop warts on the genitals or eyes. Warts may also multiply and grow larger among those with weakened immune systems or diabetes.
Cause
Eight different types of human PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) are associated with genital warts; a few (types 16 and 18) cause cervical cancer. These types of warts are not usually visible. The different types of warts can only be distinguished in a research lab.
The wart virus is transmitted during unprotected sex with an infected partner. A person is infectious when visible warts are present in the genital area; however, even if the warts have disappeared, the virus may still be present in the body.
Symptoms
Genital warts are pink to gray, soft, raised or flat, and may cause itching, burning, or bleeding around the genital area. They may appear alone or in clusters, ranging in size from pinpoint to a small mass. Boys and men usually notice the warts on the pen!s, although they can also appear in the anus or the urethra and are often completely missed. Girls and women may find warts on the vulv@, vag!na, or @nus; occasionally they may occur on the cervix. Incubation period is unknown. The warts are not painful, but they can grow and block the openings of the vagina, anus, urethra, or throat.
Diagnosis
A doctor can diagnose the condition from the wart’s appearance; a magnifying glass may be needed to find small warts. Odd-looking warts may require biopsy.
Treatment
There is no cure that will remove all traces of the virus from the body. Instead, treatment aims at removing or shrinking the warts, whether by freezing, using a topical solution or a laser, or surgery. Unfortunately, warts often reappear after treatment.
Infected partners should avoid sex when the warts are large, bleeding, or painful. A doctor should be consulted if warts block rectal openings or if there is trouble urinating.
Podophyllin topical solution is applied by a doctor to external genital warts only (it should not be used in the cervix, rectum, or during pregnancy). The solution must not touch the surrounding skin, as it can be irritating. If there are no results after four weeks, another treatment method should be used. Podofilox 0.05 percent is a prescription topical solution that can be applied by the woman for external warts. It works by killing wart tissue.
Cryotherapy freezes the wart off; it is sometimes used for cervical or rectal warts. Laser therapy is performed in a doctor’s office and is sometimes used for cervical warts. Electrosurgery is also performed in a doctor’s office for rectal warts. As a last resort, a doctor may turn to surgical removal if the warts are very large or causing problems. Still, 20 percent of the time warts grow back after this treatment.
Prevention
All women with anogenital warts need a Pap test every six to 12 months to detect early signs of cervical cancer. Young girls with cervical HPV should have regular Pap tests to discover any changes in the cervix. Most cervical problems take care of themselves, but those with a positive Pap test should seek medical help regularly to monitor the changes.
Anyone who has genital warts or who has been diagnosed in the past should always use a condom during sexual intercourse.
Complications
Some strains of the HPV virus are associated with a higher risk of cervical cancer, especially among women with persistent warts and many sex partners. However, most girls and women who have genital warts are not considered to be at increased risk for developing cervical cancer. The association between this type of cancer and HPV is not well understood.
Occasionally, babies exposed to warts in the birth canal develop warts in the throat, and a few develop warts on the genitals or eyes. Warts may also multiply and grow larger among those with weakened immune systems or diabetes.
Posted in Health and Wellness
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Comments (1)
good article..The genital warts are due to some stumps of the papillomavirus (or HPV), an extremely frequent virus in the population since the risk to make an infection one day to HPV is from 80% to 85% at the sexually active people. This virus can be contracted easily since the first sexual touching. Most of the time, the infection in the HPV virus remains completely asymptomatique, however when some genital warts occur, these last must be treated correctly.
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