Genital warts are a particular type Genital warts treatment of STI that develops warts (small bumps or growths) on or around your genitalia and rectum. Genital warts are brought on by specific HPV strains.
Although HPV itself cannot be cured, genital warts can be treated. Genital warts can be transmitted to others through vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse.
Where can you get genital warts?
- You can get genital warts if you:
- groin region.
- Anus.
- Rectum.
- Scrotum and penis.
vulva, labia minora and majora, cervix, vagina (including the interior of your vagina), and vulva.
mouth, tongue, lips, or throat.
Who might get genital warts?
Genital warts affect all genders. It’s most common in teenagers and young adults.
People assigned male at birth (AMAB) are slightly more at risk. Your chances of getting genital warts increase if you:
- Don’t use condoms or dental dams while having sex.
- Have multiple sexual partners.
How common are genital warts?
An estimated 400,000 people — most of them in their late teens and 20s — get genital warts every year. The virus that causes these warts, HPV, is the most common STI.
Approximately 79 million Americans have HPV. There are many different types of HPV. Not all types of HPV cause genital warts. HPV 6 and HPV 11 are the two strains that cause genital warts.
Are genital warts contagious?
Yes, both genital warts and the HPV virus that produces them are spreadable. The HPV virus cannot be cured. Once infected, a person is always contagious (you can always spread it to others).
You can still spread the HPV virus and cause genital warts to another person, even if you don’t have any symptoms like visible warts or you’ve had the warts removed.
What causes genital warts?
Genital warts are brought on by specific HPV kinds. Through skin-to-skin contact during intercourse, genital warts are transferred.
The kind of warts you encounter on other places of your body are caused by a different strain of HPV. By touching yourself or another person with a wart on your hands or feet, you cannot get genital warts.
Warts on the genitalia spread to:
Anal, vaginal-penile, and vaginal-vaginal sexual activity.
Sexual interaction (skin-to-skin contact without ejaculation).
giving oral sex to a person with genital warts or HPV.
oral intercourse with a person who has genital warts on their tongue, lips, or mouth, or who has HPV.
It’s crucial to remember that you can have the genital wart-causing HPV type without ever experiencing genital warts. This implies that you
What are the symptoms of genital warts?
On your skin, warts appear as rough, skin-colored or whitish-grey growths.
Although some genital warts are flat, most have a cauliflower-like appearance. Usually, genital warts don’t hurt. They occasionally cause:
- little bleeding
- burning feeling
Genital discomfort or itching:
Some warts are really tiny. You can usually feel or see them, though. The warts can occasionally form clusters, grow quite big, or take on a stalk-like appearance. The majority of warts start off as small, inconspicuous growths.
How soon do genital warts appear after infection?
Within weeks of having intercourse with an HPV-positive person, some persons start to acquire genital warts.
However, it’s common for warts to take months or even years to manifest. Because of this, it may be challenging to determine when you first had genital warts.
Having the virus does not guarantee that you will get genital warts:
You might not be aware of whether you have warts in your vagina or your anus.
If you don’t exhibit any symptoms, you might unintentionally spread the infection to other people.
How are genital warts diagnosed?
External genital warts can be seen visually by your healthcare professional,
who may then ask for a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. It might be more difficult to diagnose internal warts.
The following tests are used by doctors to identify genital warts:
Exam of the pelvis: A Pap test may be administered as part of the pelvic examination to look for cervical alterations brought on by genital warts. Additionally, a colposcopy may be used by your doctor to check and biopsy your cervix and vagina.
Anoscope: Your doctor examines your anus to check for warts during the anal exam.
If you suspect you have a genital wart, consult a healthcare professional. Genital warts are similar to other STDs, as well as conditions like moles or skin tags. A precise diagnosis is required so that you can