|
Genital warts, also known as Condylomata acuminata, affect an estimated 10 to 20 million Americans. Approximately one million people contract gential warts each year. Pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems are more susceptible than the general population to this infection.
In some cases what appear to be genital warts are only accumulations of normal skin that have no medical significance. About 1 in 100 men have these. However because gential warts are contagious, a doctor should be seen to eliminate the possibility of them. The warts are harmless in themselves, there is a link between women who have cervical cancer and gential warts. If a person should have gential warts it does not mean that they will get cervical cancer, but a pap smear should be done once a year or more to check for any cell changes.
Genital warts are caused by human papilloma virus or HPV. It is the same virus that causes warts on hands, feet, and the face. This virus lives within the body’s cells, where it replicates. In time the virus breaks out of it’s original cell host to infect other cells in the body. If this virus is not properly fought off by the immune system, gential warts break out.
Gential warts appear to be flesh-colored or grayish white growths on the vulva, anus, or penis that may develop a cauliflower-like appearance. The growths are itchy or mildly sore, or both. That is the only symptom to look for, the actual wart itself. There is no cure or vaccine for genital warts. Treatment focuses on removing visible warts. Although even after the visible warts are removed, the virus still remains in the body and may cause future outbreaks. Also treatments may or may not decrease the risk of passing the gential warts on to others. Because treatment does not actually get rid of the virus, it should be discussed with a doctor about removing them, the pros and cons to it.
|
| |
