Direct skin-to-skin contact, such as vaginal or anal intercourse—you don’t need penetrative sex to spread the virus—sharing sex toys, or—rarely—oral sex between a mother and her unborn Warts surgery child during vaginal delivery (rare).
Most HPV carriers are unaware of their condition. Genital warts can take months or even years to appear after being exposed to HPV. However, even if you haven’t yet grown warts, you can still transfer the virus to other individuals (but you are more likely to spread the virus with active warts).
There are over 100 different HPV strains, and 40 of them have an impact on your genitalia. Types 6 and 11 strains are the ones responsible for genital warts. These HPV strains are regarded as low-risk ones.
Cervical aberrant cell alterations brought on by high-risk HPV strains, particularly types 16 and 18, can result in cervical cancer. This is why women should get routine cervical screens to detect alterations in their cervix that, if left untreated, might develop into cancer. Learn more about cervical screening and HPV.
What are the symptoms of genital warts?
The majority of people who are exposed to HPV won’t get genital warts. If you do have warts, they might appear months or even years after your first viral exposure.
The symptoms of genital warts include fleshy lumps or growths on or around your genital region. In terms of size and shape, they may be categorised as follows:
Although genital warts often don’t hurt, they can become painful, swollen, and bleed. look at pictures of genital warts.
If you suspect that you have genital warts or if you have had sexual contact with someone who has HPV or genital warts, consult a doctor right once.
How are genital warts diagnosed?
To identify genital warts, your doctor will need to inspect your genitalia. Warts have a recognisable appearance, making it possible to identify them merely by looking at them. If the wart’s appearance is unusual, a sample (biopsy) may occasionally be collected to rule out other reasons.
Your doctor could do a sexual health examination or perform another STI test if you have genital warts. Study up on STIs.
ow are genital warts treated?
topical therapy, or applying a cream or solution to the warts, can be done at home:
Examples include imiquimod cream (Aldara®) and podophyllotoxin solution (Condyline®).
These may only be obtained with a prescription. Avoid using wart treatments that you may get at pharmacies since they are designed specifically for treating warts on your hands and feet and are not appropriate for use in the vaginal area.
If you have huge warts, if they haven’t responded to prior treatments, or if you are pregnant (hap), therapy to remove the warts in a clinical environment may be advised. Cryotherapy, which involves freezing liquid nitrogen, can be used to remove warts. By destroying the wart’s surface, your body can then cure the aberrant tissue. Your doctor will carry out this procedure every week until the warts have vanished.
A combination of different treatments may be recommended:
Skin-to-skin contact is not advised while the warts are healing since there is a higher chance of the virus spreading there. This indicates that you should refrain from having unprotected sexual contact with new partners. There is no need to start wearing condoms if you were not doing so already if you have a frequent partner because it is probable that HPV has already been shared.
It’s crucial to continue the therapy since, for the majority of individuals, getting rid of the warts might take several months. Although therapy can cause the warts to go away, the virus (HPV) is still there. After therapy, the virus may still be present in your skin but be inactive. After a course of therapy, warts frequently do not return. However, occasionally they do come back, or you could get warts in a new place.
How can I take care of myself while I’m being treated for genital warts?
Instead of sanitary pads or panty liners, use tampons or menstrual cups. Avoid using scented and deodorised sanitary products in particular.
Especially at night, keep cool.
Put on loose-fitting garments and underwear made of natural fibres.
Instead of itching, try using cold compresses.
To calm the skin and speed up recovery in between treatments, take a saltwater bath.
What is the outlook for someone with genital warts?
If left untreated, the majority of genital warts will go away on their own over time. Warts are often more challenging to treat and less likely to disappear on their own if you have a damaged immune system. Genital warts might recur in a previously treated region or a new place in 20–30% of treated patients.
How can I prevent genital warts?
The HPV vaccine is the most reliable method of preventing genital warts. Since skin-to-skin contact can occur around the condom, using latex condoms properly considerably minimises (but does not completely eliminate) the risk of contracting or transmitting HPV.
