5 Things You Need to Know About Coping With Genital Warts

1. Genital Warts and HPV

Genital warts are an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) and half a million new cases occur every year. The technical name for genital warts is condyloma acuminata. Genital warts look like small cauliflower-like growths on or near the genitals. A virus called HPV (human papilloma virus) is what causes genital warts. You get genital warts with actual physical contact, usually some form of sexual contact. While the virus is most contagious when actual lesions are present, it is possible to transmit the virus even without any outbreaks. There is no cure for genital warts.

2. Symptoms of Genital Warts

Symptoms of genital warts include actual lesions. These lesions may be pink or red and look like little cauliflowers. These lesions may also cause itching, burning, bleeding, tenderness and increased discharge. You may have genital warts though and have no symptoms.

3. Topical Treatment

There are many topical treatments on the market for outbreaks that help with coping with genital warts. These treatments destroy the wart tissue. Popular choices include Podocon-25 and Podofin and Condylox. Your doctor prescribes these treatments and your doctor may apply them in office or tell you how to apply them at home. If you're pregnant, let your care provider know before using these treatments.

4. Remove the Genital Warts

Some doctors will actually recommend that you remove the warts. There are many ways to remove genital warts including using scalpels, heat, cold or with lasers. Cryotherapy is a popular, though painful way to remove genital warts. In this way, liquid nitrogen freezes the warts off. Removing genital warts is usually uncomfortable and may lead to other problems. In addition, the genital warts usually come back since the virus can live in healthy tissue surrounding the wart.

5. Prevent Spreading Genital Warts

One of the most important things you need to do if you have genital warts is prevent giving it to someone else. Use a condom when having sex and consider not having sex when you have an outbreak. While genital warts mostly occur on the genitals, you can get them in your mouth, so avoid oral sex during an outbreak. Let your partner know you have genital warts so it's a not a surprise if they suddenly end up with it. Wash your hands after touching the warts and don't share your towels with another person, since it is possible to spread genital warts without sexual contact.