Genital warts, sometimes called venereal warts, are growths or bumps contracted through sexual contact. They're caused by certain types of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Genital warts are one of the most common kinds of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) or STIs (sexually transmitted infections). Cited: kidshealth.org

Genital warts are an infection of the skin of the genital and anal area, as well as the lining (mucous membranes) of the vagina, cervix and rectum.

What causes genital warts?

Genital warts, like other non-STD warts, are caused by various types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) that infect the top layers of the skin. There are over 100 different types of HPV that may cause warts, but only a small number of strains can cause genital warts. Those that do cause genital warts, unlike other wart-causing HPVs, are highly contagious and are passed on through sexual contact with a person who is infected. HPV types 6 and 11 cause the majority of genital warts. Cited: medicalnewstoday.com

Genital warts affect both men and women and can occur at any age.

Most patients with genital warts are between the ages of 17-33 years. Genital warts are highly contagious. There is around a 60% risk of getting the infection from a single sexual contact with someone who has genital warts.

In children younger than three years of age, genital warts are thought to be transmitted by nonsexual methods such as direct manual contact. Nevertheless, the presence of genital warts in children should raise the suspicion for sexual abuse.

Up to 20% of people with genital warts will have other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Genital warts are indirectly associated with use of birth control pills due to increased sexual contact without the use of barrier protection (Condoms), multiple sex partners, and having sex at an early age.

What are the risk factors for genital warts?

• Having unprotected sex
• Having unprotected sex with many different people
• Having sex with a person whose sexual history is unknown
• Starting sexual relations at a young age
• Having stress and other viral infections (such as HIV or herpes) at the same time

Diagnosing genital warts

• Women - genital warts may exist on the vulva, cervix, upper thighs, inside the vagina, on the anus, and inside the anus. (vulva = lips around the opening of the vagina. Cervix = entrance to the uterus or womb)
• Men - genital warts may exist on the penis, scrotum, urethra, upper thighs, on the anus, and inside the anus. (urethra = tube than urine passes through. scrotum = sac that holds the testicles)

Oral sex can also raise the risk of genital warts developing in the mouth or throat.

A patient needs to be examined by a health care professional (this could be a nurse) to confirm a diagnosis of genital warts. If you suspect you have genital warts you can either go to a GP (general practitioner, primary care physician), a City Health Clinic, or a sexual health clinic such as the Ivan Toms Centre for Men's Health next to the Woodstock Day Hospital.

Even if a person's partner has no symptoms it is still possible to have genital warts. People should go for a checkup if:

• The patient or partner has genital warts symptoms
• The patient recently had unprotected sex with a new partner
• The patient or partner have had unprotected sex with somebody else
• The patient's partner tells him/her that he/she has an STD
• The patient has an STD
• The patient is pregnant
• The patient is trying to get pregnant

A healthcare professional can usually diagnose genital warts if any are visible. The examination may involve looking inside the vagina or anus. On rare occasions a biopsy of the wart may be taken.

Sometimes, even if no warts are detected, the doctor or nurse may ask the patient to come back at a later date. Visible warts may not appear straight after infection.

What do genital warts look like?

• They may appear as flesh-colored or gray swellings (bumps) in the patient's genital area.
• If several are clustered together they may appear to have a cauliflower shape.
• Some genital warts are so tiny that they can only be detected with a colposcopic exam of the cervix and vagina or a Pap smear.

What is the treatment for genital warts?

Doctors will only treat patients who have visible warts. The type of treatment depends on:

• The location of the warts
• How many warts there are
• What the warts look like

Treatment is aimed at getting rid of the visible warts and lowering the number of viruses present. If the amount of viruses can be lowered the patient's immune system has a better chance of fighting them off. The following treatments are effective in getting rid of visible warts:

• Topical medication - a cream or liquid is applied directly onto the warts for a few days each week. This may be either administered by the patient at home or at a clinic - it depends on the kind of treatment. Treatment may continue for several weeks.
• Cryotherapy - the warts are frozen, often with liquid nitrogen. The freezing causes a blister to form around the wart. As the skin heals the lesions slide off, allowing new skin to appear. Sometimes repeated treatments are needed.
• Electrocautery - electric current is used to destroy the wart. The patient will generally be given a local anesthetic.
• Surgery - the wart will be cut out (excised). A local anesthetic will be used for this.
• Laser treatment - an intensive beam of light is used to destroy the wart.

It is not uncommon for doctors to use more than one treatment at the same time. Treatments are not painful, but may sometimes be uncomfortable, with some soreness and irritation for one or two days. Ordinary over-the-counter painkillers may be taken by patients after treatment. Some patients who feel sore may find that a warm bath helps. After the bath make sure you dry the affected area completely. Do not use bath oils, soap, creams, etc., until well after the treatment is completed.

Over-the-counter treatments for ordinary warts (non genital warts) are not suitable for genital warts treatment.

Genital warts will usually eventually go away, even if left untreated. They do sometimes get bigger in size and populate in larger numbers, without treatment. Expert doctors say that untreated genital warts are not harmful to the health of the infected person, but they may be uncomfortable and not look appealing. However, treating warts greatly reduces the risk of passing them on to another person.

Why are Pap tests important?

A pap test is also known as a Pap smear. It is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women. The test involves collecting cells from the woman's cervix. Cervical cancer is a possible complication of HPV infection.

Women should have regular pelvic exams and Pap tests. These also help detect cervical and vaginal changes which may be triggered by genital warts.

Experts say that a woman should have a Pap test either at the age of 21 or within three years of having sex, whichever comes first. Women who have had genital warts should have a Pap test every three to six months.

There is a greater chance of curing a woman's cervical cancer if it is detected and treated early. A Pap smear can also detect changes in the woman's cervical cells that may indicate a higher probability of cancer developing in future. Cited: medicalnewstoday.com

Where to go for medical help?

• Go to any Day Hospital / Day Health Care Centre's for medical assistance. Click here to see where they are.
• The City of Cape Town`s Clinics also treat STI/STD`s. Click here to find one nearest to you.
• Health 4 Men is an organization that caters for the needs of Homosexual men, but treats all men irrespective of their sexuality and treats STI/STD for free.  Click here to find out where they are

Sources:

• health4men
• capegateway
• medicalnewstoday
• kidshealth
• emedicinehealth
• capetown

Page Created: 12 August 2010