Genital Warts: What They are and How to Treat Them

A genital wart is a Sexually Transmitted Infection, or what is most commonly known as STI. Genital warts can be very small, flat, flesh-colored or even tiny bumps that look like cauliflowers.

Where It Grows

As the name suggests, genital warts in men can grow in the penis and anus area, as well as the area between the penis and scrotum. In women, genital warts can be found in the vagina, the cervix, vulva and perineal area. These warts actually can grow up to any size. Some warts can grow up to discomfiting sizes while some are too tiny that one cannot even see them.

What Causes Genital Warts?

Genital warts are dangerous since these can lead to cervical cancer in women or penile cancer in men. The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is virus responsible for this infection, though not all types of HPV can cause genital warts.

One can be infected by genital warts through having vaginal, oral or anal sex with a person already infected with it. The best way to prevent contracting HPV is to abstain from sexual activity. If one is sexually active, maintain a monogamous relationship and make sure your partner does not carry it. This can lower the risk of transmitting and getting HPV.

Genital warts can have a long incubation period, so you may not see it immediately on your partner. Even then, it can already be transmitted during incubation period.

It may takes months or, in some cases, years for one to notice that the genital warts growing. Warts can grow on the cervix of a woman, which is inside the body, and may not be seen. Using condoms may also lower the risk of transmitting or catching HPV, but remember that not all parts of the man’s genitals are covered by it.

Treatments Available For Genital Warts

One should immediately seek medical help when one notices genital warts. The doctor may diagnose the warts through pap smear in women, or by just plain examination. These are treatable by the doctor, and you should not be doing self-treatment. The wart can be removed, but the virus will continue to live inside the skin, so there is a large possibility that they will return more than once.

There are a lot of ways to remove genital warts. These are some of the treatments available:

1. Cryotherapy

The wart is frozen then removed.

2. Laser treatment

The wart is removed by a laser.

3. Electrosurgical Excision Procedure(LEEP)

A sharp, loop-shaped instrument is passed underneath the wart and it is cut out from the skin.

4. Chemical treatment

Special chemicals can dissolve genital warts and remove them. This treatment usually takes several weeks with multiple applications. Please take note that the chemicals that are used to move warts from hands and feet should not be used in removing genital warts. These can cause a lot of irritation on your genitals.

If left untreated, you could risk transmitting the HPV to your partner if you are sexually active. This can also lead to more complications, and even more serious conditions such as cancer of the penis, vagina, anus and vulva.