Penis Warts – Tips for Dealing with a Common Men’s Health Issue

One thing no man wants to wake up to in the morning is a suspicious bump on his junk. Just imagine the alarm that one experience upon discovering such a thing; one minute a man is sleepily going through his morning shower routine and the next - BAM - he is wide awake as he discovers an unfamiliar protrusion down below. Finding penis warts is one such occasion that is sure to jolt a man wide-awake. Learn more about genital warts and tips for maintaining a healthy penis. What are penis warts? Penis warts, or genital warts, are pink or flesh-colored bumps that appear on the penis shaft, anus, scrotum, thigh, or groin area. Genital warts may be raised or flat, they can be small or large, appear as a single wart or in a patch of several warts, they can even have a center that resembles a piece of cauliflower. Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a very common virus that is spread from partner to partner during sexual acts, it is estimated that about 50% of sexually active individuals have or will become infected with HPV in their lifetime - if that doesn’t motivate a man to use a condom, nothing will! How are they diagnosed? For most individuals, a doctor needs to do nothing more than see the bump to determine if it is a genital wart - it is possible it could be something else as there are plenty of penis bumps to be had. The tricky thing about genital warts is that they may show up shortly after having sex with an infected partner, or they can take weeks or months to rear their ugly little heads. That is part of the reason they are so easily spread, as it is possible for a man or woman to unknowingly infect their partner without even knowing they are carrying the virus at the time of sex. What’s more? Some men can be carrying the HPV virus yet remain asymptomatic indefinitely - meaning they never have symptoms of HPV including warts - these individuals are at especially high risk of transmitting the infection to others. Are genital warts cancerous? While it is true that certain strains of the virus HPV are associated with cervical cancer in women and penis cancer in men, genital warts do not necessarily lead to penis cancer. Typically, the strain of HPV that causes warts does not cause cancer. A doctor can perform a Pap test to diagnose HPV in women, but currently there is not a male equivalent available. Keeping the penis healthy There are certain risk factors that increase one’s chance of becoming infected with HPV. Engaging in unprotected sex, having multiple partners, being with a partner who has had many partners, and not always using a condom can all increase one’s risk of acquiring HPV. Luckily, genital wart outbreaks tend to go away on their own, though stubborn ones may need medical treatment. The virus itself, however, does stay in the body, meaning one is always at risk for another outbreak and is able to spread the infection to others. Preventative care is an important part of keeping the penis healthy; using protection is a key way to reduce the risk of contracting HPV and genital warts. Condoms do offer protection against HPV, but the only certain way to prevent it -- and other sexually transmitted infections - is to abstain entirely from sexual relations. While engaging in safe sex is important to a man’s overall sexual health, there are other steps a man can take to keep the penis healthy. Daily use of a penis health formula (most professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) can help improve the appearance and health of a man’s penis. Selecting a penis health formula that contains vitamins and minerals can help moisturize the skin of the penis, fight odors, prevent disease, and eliminate harmful bacteria in the area.