Genital Warts Symptoms and Treatment

Genital warts, also known as venereal warts and medically termed as Condylomata acumina is a highly contagious but most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. 75% of the reproductive-age population in the country is today believed to be affected with this infection. More than 6 million people are infected with the virus every year. It is caused by some sub-type of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact during the sex act (oral, genital and anal). The worst part of the whole story is that, more than 50% of the affected people are between the ages of 15 and 25!

Genital warts can be easily observed in singles or in clusters appearing on the penis, scrotum and the anal region in males. In women, they are found outside as well as the inside the vulva, the cervix of the womb (uterus) and in the anal region. These warts are usually flat and therefore, not so easily visible.

Nevertheless, the condition needs thorough investigation as HPV can lead to cancerous and pre-cancerous changes in the cervix. Some cervical cancers are believed to have originated from HPV. When in doubt, pap smears are necessary to confirm HPV. Coupled with herpes virus take care, because HPV may cause cervical cancer. Untreated warts often take the shape of cauliflowers spread on the skin. In some instances, genital warts appear on the throat or the mouth of a person who has probably indulged in oral sex. Increased vaginal discharge is also a significant symptom of genital warts in females.

When luck favors or the body’s immune system gets a boost up, genital warts disappear on their own. Otherwise the elimination of warts may require one or more of the following procedures.

• Cryosurgery i a method of freezing the warts to destroy them without causing any harm to the surrounding tissues. Here the cold is introduced through a probe that has liquid nitrogen circulating within it. To destroy genital warts, they are cooled to below -20 degrees C.

• Electrocautery or electrocauterization is safe. It is a surgery to remove tissues that cause harm and are not needed, which in this case is the genital warts.
• Laser therapy uses extremely narrow but an intense beam of light to precisely remove the growth.
• Use of topical immune response cream.
• Application of anti-mitotic solution to the affected area.

It may sound sad, but it is yet true that the warts that have been removed so painstakingly is likely to grow again since the virus remains within the body, only awaiting another outbreak.

• Genital warts should not be confused with hirsutiies papillaris genitalis though warts caused by it also look similar to HPV warts.
• Genital warts should not be confused with Molluscum contagiosum (MC).
• Genital warts should not be confused with Fordyce’s spots.