According to research, in the early 19th century, genital warts were believed to be caused by syphilis or gonorrhea. We now know that genital warts are a contagious infection that is transmitted sexually, and is one of the most easily recognized signs of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Genital warts can be found on both men and women, and are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Current studies estimate that there are about 500,000 cases of genital warts each year in the United States alone. More than half of these cases are people between the ages of 15 and 25. Internationally, it is estimated that 30 million people have been infected by genital warts.
Symptoms of Genital Warts
Genital warts usually appear in clusters, but can vary in size. Some are even too small to see with the naked eye. Genital warts are not usually painful, but can cause a lot of itching, and will bleed if they become ruptured.
Warts usually appear as cauliflower-shaped bumps on the genitals, but can also look flat. On men, warts usually occur on the tip of the penis, but can also show up on the shaft, the scrotum, around the anus, or in some cases, on the inner thigh. In women, warts are usually visible around the vagina or anus. Some females may never see warts because they are located inside of the body, on the cervix.
Often times, genital warts do not appear for weeks or even months after infection. Sometimes they can take one year or more to develop. Warts can also develop on the mouth of someone who gave oral sex to an infected person.
Dangers of Genital Warts
If left untreated, genital warts can spread and grow larger, causing you more discomfort, and preventing you from having intercourse. You also put your partner at risk, since warts are highly contagious. It is also possible to spread warts to others through towels, or by an infected person touching their wart and touching someone else without washing their hands.
One of the most severe consequences of genital warts is that they could become cancerous if left untreated for too long. They can be associated with cervical cancer in women, and cancer of the penis in men. In some cases, warts may also infect the urethral opening and obstruct urine flow, causing a variety of other problems. It is also possible for women infected with warts to transmit them to their baby during childbirth.
Treatment of Genital Warts
As depressing as it can be to find out you have contracted genital warts, you have treatment options. Genital warts can be treated using several methods including: freezing, laser removal, or surgical excision, where a sharp tool is used to dig the wart out from underneath the skin. These evasive procedures can be uncomfortable.
There are also less evasive procedures for removing genital warts, such as applying a medication to the affected area. Some people use home remedies to get rid of genital warts. It is important to know that chemicals from the store, that are used to remove warts from other parts of the body, should not be used to remove genital warts.
