Genital Warts
What is Genital Wart?
Genital warts refer to the warts that are present in the genital area. Genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). It is a contagious disease that spreads through sexual contacts. HPV usually infects the skin and mucous membranes. More than 130 types of HPV are found. Out of these nearly 30-40 types transmit through sexual contact.
Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted disease. According to a study, about 50% of the sexually active men and women get infected by HPV once in their life. It is also observed that some forms of the virus is responsible for cervical and penile cancer.
Once an individual is infected by HPV, it takes one to three months for the warts to appear. It is also possible to remain infected without having warts.
Genital warts look like small flesh colored, red or pink growths in and around the genital area or the sex organs. Warts may be similar to the small parts of a cauliflower or they may be tiny enough not to be seen with the naked eyes.
Symptoms of Genital Warts
Many a times, the HPV infection shows no visible symptoms even when the person is seriously infected. However, the warts may appear in the genital area. The most common area where genital warts can be seen includes the anus, cervix, thigh, scrotum, groin, or the penis.
Genital warts show up after several weeks or a few months after the person is infected. The person may not be even aware that he /she is a carrier of the disease.
Some types of genital warts are linked with cancer in cervix, vulva, anus, or penis. In these cases too, the person may not be aware of the precancerous changes in the cells in the tissues until the disease develops to higher stages.
The common signs and symptoms of genital warts may include the following;
• Bleeding during intercourse
• Small and flesh-colored or gray bumps in or nearby the sexual organs
• a cauliflower shape taken by the several warts closing together
• Itching, inflammation, swelling or discomfort in your genital area
Diagnosis of Genital Warts
One of the most common ways to diagnose genital warts includes visual inspection under a special microscope called colposcope. The doctor may detect the presence of warts in your genital area by inspecting with a colposcope.
The doctor may also apply acetic acid solution on your genital area to whiten the warts and then inspect through the colposcope to diagnose warts.
Having regular pap tests is an important measure to avoid cancerous growth especially for women. The pap tests help detect the vaginal and cervical changes that appear due to warts. As, in some cases, the warts are related to cancer, the tests may result in pre-screening of the cancerous growth.
If initial pap test results are abnormal, the doctor may perform a DNA test on the virus. This informs the doctor whether the virus present may cause cancer or not. Having pap tests regularly may be required if you are detected with genital warts. However, if you are over 30 and three consecutive tests are normal, the frequency of having pap tests may be reduced.
Causes of Genital Warts
The exact reasons for having genital warts are unknown. However, it is found that people who have sexual contact with an infected person may develop the warts within three months from the date of contact. About two thirds of the people who have sexual contact with an infected person acquire HPV.
Although more than 100 types of HPV are known, only a few types can cause genital warts.
Types of Genital Warts
There are more than 100 strains of HPV virus out of which nearly 30 are responsible for the development of genital warts. However, the signs and symptoms of the disease remain the same. All these infections are taken under the single approach of treatment and therefore no subtypes of the disease are yet known.
Treatment of Genital Warts
Many types (up to 30% of cases) of genital warts go away without any treatment or special symptoms. If it is not bothering you much, you may not need to go for treatments. However, if it is causing itching, pain or are causing emotional distress, treatment may be sought for. The predominant techniques of treating genital warts include medication and surgeries.
Medications
Imiquimod (Aldara) is one of the best medications which boost the immune system to fight against infections. Sexual contacts, while having the cream on, should be avoided. The medicine may weaken condoms or diaphragms. It can also cause irritation on the skin of your partner.
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a strong medication that burns down the genital warts. However, it should be applied always under medical supervision.
Podophyllin and podofilox (Condylox) contain a plant based resin 
that destroys the warts. While podophyllin is administered by the doctor, the latter may be safely used at home. However, the doctor may provide special precautionary measures on how to apply the medicine. Podofilox should never be used internally. Moreover, the medications are not use during pregnancy.
Surgeries
Several approaches may be taken while treating warts with surgeries. Some of the most practiced options are discussed here.
Cyrotherapy includes freezing the warts with the application of liquid nitrogen. Freezing works by forming a blister around the warts. While the skin heals, the lesions may slough off, leading to appearance of new skin. However, several cyrotherapy episodes may be needed to cure the condition.
The electrocautery process is used to treat the warts with the application of electricity. Usually, electrical currents are passed through the warts to burn them down.
Laser therapies are also quite useful measure to treat the warts. It uses a powerful beam of light to destroy the warts. It is expensive and mostly used in case of tough to treat warts.
Surgical incision may also be used to cut off the warts. The doctors usually use anesthetics for this procedure.
Living with Genital Warts
Close monitoring is the best way to take care of the warts. In many cases, usually no symptoms or treatments are needed. However, as some cases of HPV are related with cancerous growth, the doctor may advise to keep monitoring the condition to discard cancerous growth.
Medications, as provided by the doctor, should be taken regularly to decrease the discomfort or the chances of spreading the disease.
Genital warts may reduce the chances of normal delivery if genital warts infect a woman in the last stages of pregnancy. The child may get warts in the throat if the mother is suffering from genital warts. Morover, the child may need surgical procedures to prevent obstruction in the airway.
Prevention of Genital Warts
It would be worthwhile to mention here that sexual contact is the easiest way of spreading the virus. Hence, care should be taken to avoid sexual contact with a person infected with HPV. Moreover, now HPV vaccines have been developed which provide ample support in preventing genital wart’s spread Gardasil, a vaccine, may provide effective relief from two strains of HPV that are responsible for 70% of the cases where cancerous growth may be possible.
Using condoms during sexual intercourse is also an effective option to prevent the spread of genital warts. Moreover, wearing condom may be useful in preventing other forms of STDs as well.
Avoiding sexual activity, while having warts, is another measure to prevent the disease from spreading. Discuss with your partner if you are having genital warts so that he/she might seek medical care for a possible infection.
