Genital Warts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments Explained

Genital Warts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments Explained

Introduction

Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). An estimated 1 million new cases occur every year in the United States alone. Genital warts can cause discomfort and emotional distress, and some strains of HPV are linked to cervical and other cancers. While there is no cure for HPV itself, genital wart treatments are available to remove the warts.

What Causes Genital Warts?

Genital warts are caused by infection with certain strains of HPV, commonly HPV types 6 and 11. HPV is easily spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, and oral sex with someone who has the virus. Using condoms reduces, but does not completely prevent, HPV transmission.

HPV is very common – most sexually active people are exposed to it at some point. However, not everyone infected with HPV develops visible genital warts. The virus can remain dormant or latent for weeks, months, or even years before warts appear. When they do appear, it is not necessarily indicative of a recent infection. Wart removal treatment targets the visible warts but cannot cure the underlying HPV infection.

Recognizing Genital Warts

Genital warts may appear within weeks or months after contact with HPV. However, they often go unnoticed as they can be quite small and painless.

The warts look like small bumps or growths, are usually flesh-colored, and appear in the genital area, upper thighs, anus, or pubic area. They can occur singularly but usually appear in clusters or groups. In women they occur on the vulva, vagina, cervix, and perianal region. In men they are found on the tip or shaft of the penis, scrotum, and perianal area. Rarely, they occur inside the urethra.

Some distinct characteristics of genital warts include:

  • Fleshy, pink, gray or off-white bumps
  • Appear singly or in clusters
  • Can be raised or flat
  • Often painless
  • May itch slightly

When to See a Doctor

See your doctor if you notice any unusual bumps or growths in your genital area. A visual examination can often diagnose genital warts. However, some warts can be internal and not visible. Your doctor may apply a vinegar solution to highlight flat lesions. A biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

It is advisable to get checked if you think you may have been exposed to HPV, even if there are no visible warts. Since HPV causes most cervical cancers, women should get regular Pap smears to screen for precancerous changes on the cervix, regardless of wart symptoms.

Medical Treatments for Genital Warts

There is currently no treatment that can eradicate HPV itself, but genital wart treatments aim to remove the visible warts. Several effective medical treatments are available:

  • Cryotherapy – freezing warts with liquid nitrogen to destroy them. May require several treatments.
  • Topical medicines – prescription creams containing chemicals like imiquimod, sinecatechins or podofilox to damage the wart tissue over several weeks.
  • Laser therapy – using a focused laser beam to burn off warts.
  • Surgical removal – cutting away warts by electrocautery, scalpel or scissors. Better for large or widespread warts. Local anesthesia is used.
  • TCA or BCA – applying trichloroacetic or bichloroacetic acid to burn off warts.
  • Interferon injections – used for severe cases to boost immune response against warts.

Treatment can remove visible genital warts, but it does not cure the underlying HPV infection. Warts often recur after treatment, as the virus may still be present in normal skin cells. More than one treatment method may be necessary to fully remove all warts.

Lifestyle Measures and Home Remedies

In addition to medical treatments, you can try some self-care methods to help deal with genital warts:

  • Boost immunity with a healthy diet, exercise, sleep and stress management.
  • Apply over-the-counter creams like imiquimod (Aldara), podofilox (Condylox), sinecatechins (Veregen) as per instructions.
  • Soak warts in warm water to soften them before use of topical treatments.
  • Apply apple cider vinegar, garlic paste, or tea tree oil to warts. Limited evidence on effectiveness.
  • Take a 500-1000 mg vitamin C supplement daily. Some find it helps clear warts faster.
  • Avoid picking, scratching, or damaging warts as it can spread HPV.
  • Stop smoking which makes treatment less effective.
  • Use condoms to avoid spreading HPV to partners. But it offers limited protection for areas not covered by a condom.

Can HPV and Genital Warts Be Prevented?

abstaining from all sexual contact eliminates HPV risk. But for sexually active individuals, the main ways to avoid HPV are:

  • Get vaccinated – HPV vaccines protect against certain cancer-causing strains. It works best when given before exposure to HPV.
  • Use condoms – reduces but does not eliminate HPV risk. Still advised to lower chances of contracting genital warts.
  • Limit sexual partners – Having fewer partners means fewer chances to get infected. But even one partner with HPV can transmit the virus.Get regular Pap smears – important for early detection of cervical cancer.

While frustrating, genital warts are benign growths, not cancers. With prompt genital wart treatment they can usually be gotten rid of. Being open and communicating with partners is key to prevent transmission. Safe lifestyle choices can also keep HPV risk low.

Conclusion

Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted disease, caused by certain strains of HPV. They manifest as painless bumps or growths in the genital region. While genital warts often go away on their own, medications and procedures can remove them faster. Home remedies may also help. Getting vaccinated, using condoms, and limiting partners can reduce the risk of contracting HPV and genital warts. Regular Pap smears are key to detect any precancerous changes on the cervix in women. Being proactive and speaking openly with partners and doctors is crucial for effective genital wart treatment.

FAQs:

What are the first signs of genital warts?

The first signs of genital warts are usually small, painless bumps or growths in the genital area. They may appear within weeks or months after getting infected with HPV through sexual contact. Warts often occur in clusters and can be flesh-colored, pink, or grayish.

Is HPV that causes genital warts cancerous?

The strains of HPV that cause genital warts, mainly types 6 and 11, are considered low-risk and are not cancer-causing. However, some high risk cancer-causing strains of HPV can also cause genital warts along with cellular changes on the cervix. So testing is important.

Can you get rid of HPV completely?

There is currently no cure for HPV itself. Even after genital warts are treated and removed, the virus may still be present in normal skin cells and remain dormant. Most HPV infections clear naturally within 2 years, but the virus can sometimes persist for life. Management focuses on treating visible warts and getting regular screenings as recommended.

 

Editorial Team