The Mayo Clinic claims genital warts to be the most commonly transmitted sexual disease. Also known as venereal warts, they appear flat or papular and may be found on the external genitalia, penis, scrotum, cervix, vagina and anal area. They can also be found in and around the mouth. Confirmation of a visual diagnosis may be made by a biopsy.
Causes
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. There are over 100 types of HPV, but only HPV 6 and HPV 11 carry the virus that causes genital warts. To catch genital warts you must have sexual contact with an infected person. Contact may be by sexual intercourse, anal or oral sex.
Significance
The Mayo Clinic estimates that two-thirds of people having intimate contact with an infected person will develop genital warts. You may begin to see the warts as soon as three months after the contact or as long as several years later. The Centers for Disease Control notes that genital warts may be symptom free, but may cause bleeding and irritation depending on which part of your body they are located.
Risk
If you have, or have had, a sexually transmitted disease, you may be at a higher risk of contacting genital warts. Individuals between 15 and 25 are also more apt to contact HPV. Other risk factors include having sex with someone you don't know and having unprotected sex.
Considerations
Genital warts aren't always the cause of certain cancers, but HPV has been linked to some types such as cancer of the vulva and cervix, anal and penile cancer. Warts may also enlarge, making urination difficult. Vaginal warts may hinder delivery during pregnancy. Although rare, the infant may develop genital warts in the throat that may require surgery to prevent obstruction of the airway.
Treatment
Once infected, HPV never entirely goes away. If an outbreak is causing bleeding or pain, surgery or medication may remove them. Imiquimod or podofilox cream, or trichloroacetic acid may be applied directly to the warts. Surgical possibilities include using liquid nitrogen, called cryotherapy, excision under a local anesthetic, electrocauterizion or laser.
