5 Things You Need to Know About Male Genital Warts Symptoms

1. Genital Warts Can Infect You

Know the facts concerning genital warts to protect yourself and your partners from this sexually transmitted disease. Sexual contact, including oral or anal sex, with an individual infected with the human papilloma virus caused genital warts, also known as venereal warts. HPV infects more than six million new victims each year. Multiple strains of HPV exist and every strain does not cause genital warts, but several do. If you are sexually active with multiple partners, you are at risk for genital warts.

2. Itimate Contact and Prevention

Keep clear of individuals infected with genital warts. Expose your skin to the skin of an infected individual and you are at risk for genital warts. Genital warts are not always visible in women and can occur in the vaginal canal or on the cervix. Your body may fight off HPV naturally and genital warts occur less frequently in men than women. Symptoms may not appear for weeks to years after exposure and sometimes warts never develop. The only method to completely prevent a STD infection is abstinence or monogamous sex with an uninfected partner. Condoms can reduce but not eliminate your exposure to HPV. HPV is transmitted by physical contact with infected skin, which can include areas not covered by a condom.

3. Examine Your Privates

Examine your penis and the surrounding area on a regular basis if you are sexually active. Genital warts can affect the penis, anus and scrotum, or groin. Genital warts can even form on the thigh. Look for small cauliflower-like growths in the genital region where the warts may be singular or in groups. Suspect any raised bump in the genital region as HPV warts come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Symptoms of genital warts also include itching and increased dampness in the affected areas. Some individuals infected with HPV have no symptoms at all. Contact your doctor if you have been exposed to HPV or have any irregular bumps in the genital area.

4. See the Doctor

Visit your doctor for a definitive diagnosis of genital warts. Expect an inspection of your genitalia especially the tip of your penis, where men frequently experience warts. Doctors apply vinegar or acetic acid to areas that may be infected to make small warts more visible. Warts are removed by freezing, burning, and laser removal or by prescription strength creams. Seek treatment for genital warts because while genital warts may subside on their own, they could also grow in size and require surgical removal. The HPV virus is still in your body even after genital warts have been removed and genital warts may reappear and require additional treatment

5. Good News, Finally

Encourage your female friends and family members to be vaccinated against HPV. Gardasil, a vaccine for women, protects against the form of HPV that causes 90 percent of genital warts.