What is Genital Warts?
Genital Herpes is the second most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), experienced by men and women in the UK. It is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HSV), which can be passed on through intimate contact, such as during sexual activities. However, not everyone infected by the virus develops genital warts.
It usually does not cause any long-term effects, however once infected the virus remains in your body and can become active again, resulting in recurrent infections in most people, months or years later. It results in warts, which are small fleshy growths on or around the genital area.
Both men and women are affected by genital warts, and it is most common in sexually active teenagers and young adults aged between 20 to 24 and 16 to 19 years of age for men and women respectively. The condition can be treated and managed with medication, prescribed according to the type and severity.
In many cases, people infected by HPV will not develop any visible warts and the virus goes away on its own. If they do appear, it may be several weeks, months or even years after you first came in contact with the virus.
You may notice small, fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes anywhere on the genitals or around the anus. One may have a single warts or clusters of multiple warts that grow together.
In women, warts most commonly develop around the vulva (opening of the vagina), inside the vagina, on the cervix, around or inside the anus or on the upper thighs.
In men, warts most commonly develop on the penis, scrotum, inside the urethra, around or inside the anus or on the upper thighs.
Other symptoms include itchy and inflamed warts, which may lead to bleeding from the urethra, vagina or anus.
Genital warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It is a family of more than 100 different strains or viruses, of which type 6 and type 11 are known to cause genital warts. As in most cases the condition does not lead to any visible symptoms, many people are unaware of being infected and can pass it on easily through sexual contact.
The most common way HPV is passed on from person to person is through skin contact during sexual activities, such as vaginal, anal or non-penetrative sex, sharing sex toys or rarely even oral sex. It is not passed on through kissing, hugging or sharing items of clothing or cutlery.
Any sexually active person is at risk for HPV, however certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing the condition. These include people who are under the age of 30, who smoke, have immune system weaknesses, a history of child abuse and those whose mother had the virus during childbirth.
If you think you may have genital warts, you can visit your local sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic
The doctor will perform a physical examination of the areas where you suspect warts may be occurring, sometimes the doctor may need to perform a pelvic examination as the warts can be deep inside for women.
Your doctor will ask about your and your family’s health and sexual history, which includes symptoms you have experienced.
The doctor can also perform a pap smear, which involves taking a swab of the area to obtain cells from your cervix, which is then tested for HPV.
Treatment for genital warts depends on the type of warts you have and where they are located. While visible warts often go away with time you may have several outbreaks, therefore it is important to manage and treat the symptoms and avoid passing on the infection. You will not need treatment if there are no visible warts.
To treat the condition we offer Condyline solution.
Avoid perfumed soap, bath oils, bubble baths, creams and lotions and engaging in sexual intercourse until treatment in completed.
