Causes and Symptoms of Genital Warts

2010-02-22T06:01:00.000-08:00

Genital Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV virus. HP is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases that are spread by skin on skin contact during sexual intercourse. Millions of people contract genital warts every year and the chance of you contracting genital warts increases if you have multiple partners and frequently engages in unprotected sex.

There are around a thousand types of the HPV virus that are know today. Out of the thousand, about forty are known to cause genital warts in men and women. Type 6 and 11 cause of around 95% of genital warts.

Genital warts can be very hard to see if they are small by the naked eye because they can range from the size of a millimeter to several square centimeters. In women they can infect the urethra, anus and in the moist part of the vaginal opening.

There are not many symptoms of genital warts so people could walk around with them for years and not even know they had them. Some common symptoms of Genital warts in men and women include painless bumps, itching, discharge, and women may experience bleeding after intercourse. People suffering from genital warts should seek medical help if the genital warts are very noticeable and painful. You shouldn’t ignore your genital warts if they reach a severe stage. You will only keep yourself from enjoying sexual activity for longer if you do not get the proper treatment as soon as possible.

Cryotherapy is a procedure where the warts are frozen off by liquid nitrogen. This sound very painful but those individuals who have used this treatment have no to little side-effects.

Laser Surgery is a fast way for genital warts removal. Laser surgery will most likely be your choice because it has a very high success rate and no side effects for most who use this form of treatment.

Electrocautery applies a blister agent to the infected area - which will need to be washed off at a later time. A potent acid has been known to kill warts but this should only be performed by a doctor as well.

If you act quickly and get over the embarrassment you feel because you just found out you have genital warts, there is no reason you should be able to eliminate the genital warts on the surface. The sooner you act the better you will feel, thus returning to your sexual activity.