THE MISCONCEPTION ABOUT GENITAL WARTS & HOW TO TREAT IT

What are Genital warts?

Genital warts, also called condylomata acuminata, are warts that appear as small bumps on or near the genitals or anus. Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) passed on by vaginal and anal sex, sharing sex toys and, rarely, by oral sex.

What causes genital warts?

Genital warts causes

Genital warts occur due to the human papillomavirus (HPV), for which there is no cure, so these warts may return after treatment. 

You can get genital warts from:

• skin-to-skin contact, including vaginal and anal sex
• sharing sex toys
• oral sex, but this is rare

The virus can also be passed to a baby from its mother during birth, but this is rare.

Genital warts symptoms 

Symptoms of Genital warts female

In women, genital warts can grow on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus, the anal canal, and the cervix. In men, they may occur on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum, or the anus.

Genital warts can also develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with an infected person.

The signs and symptoms of genital warts include:

• Small, flesh-colored, brown or pink swellings in your genital area
• A cauliflower-like shape caused by several warts close together
• Itching or discomfort in your genital area
• Bleeding with intercourse
• Genital warts can be so small and flat as to be invisible. Rarely, however, genital warts can multiply into large clusters in someone with a suppressed immune system.

Is there a cure for Genital warts? 

Around 30% of genital warts will go away by themselves within 4 months of appearing, and around 90% of HPV infections will resolve themselves within 2 years of infection. However, this virus can have a latency period, meaning symptoms may appear or reoccur months or years after the initial infection.

Are Genital warts contagious? Can you get Genital warts from kissing? 

You cannot get genital warts from:

• kissing
• sharing things like towels, cutlery, cups or toilet seats

Genital warts treatment 

Treatment for genital warts needs to be prescribed by a doctor. The type of treatment you'll be offered depends on what the warts look like and where they are. The doctor or nurse will discuss this with you.

Treatments include:

• cream or liquid: you can usually apply this to the warts yourself a few times a week for several weeks, but in some cases you may need to go to a sexual health clinic where a doctor or nurse will apply it. These treatments can cause pain, irritation or a burning sensation.
• surgery: a doctor or nurse may cut, burn or use a laser to remove the warts. This can cause pain, irritation or scarring.
• freezing: a doctor or nurse freezes the warts. Sometimes the treatment is repeated several times. This can cause pain.

It may take weeks or months for treatment to work and the warts may come back. In some people, the treatment does not work.

There's no cure for genital warts, but it's possible for your body to fight the virus over time.

How to stop genital warts being passed on

You can stop genital warts from being passed on by:

• using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex – but if the virus is in any in skin that's not protected by a condom, it can still be passed on
• not having sex while you're having treatment for genital warts
• not sharing sex toys; if you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them

Why genital warts come back

Genital warts are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many types of HPV.

The HPV virus can stay in your skin and warts can develop again.

Warts may go away without treatment, but this may take many months. You can still pass the virus on, and the warts may come back.

References:

1. Medical News Today 
2. NHS 
3. Mayoclinic