HPV (human papillomavirus) is sexually transmitted illness and occurs in 50% of sexually active adults. It is besides known as genital warts or venereal warts. As a matter of fact HPV is a serious disease. It should be besides added that there are over a hundred known strains of HPV, some are low-risk that can cause warts, others are high-risk and they are known to cause the dreaded cervical cancer as well as anal and other genital cancers.
The other significant aspect of this disease that you should be familiar with is that HPV is transmitted through contact with the skin or mucosal membrane of an infected individual during sexual activity. A latency stage may occur for months or even years from onset of the infection in which no symptom is evident.
What are the symptoms?
Well, genital warts are lumps that, in fact, may be different in appearance. The point is that most of warts are flesh or gray in color, often round, sometimes cauliflower in shape, and, as well, may be varied in size. It is in addition vital to mention that sometimes the bumps are almost not obvious because of the fact that they can be even smaller than the tip of a ballpoint pen.
As concerning women, it should be stated that the growths may occur on the vulva, in the walls of vagina or inside the cervix while talking about men, there is a need to point out that they usually occur on the tip and sometimes the shaft of the penis, or on the scrotum. You need also to keep in mind that the growth can likewise happen inside and on the periphery of the anus, in the area of the groin, and the inner thighs in both women and men. Thought t happens quite rarely, but still it is worth to point out that the warts can even appear in the mouth or inside the throat as caused by oral sex with a carrier of the disease.
This is a very unpleasant disease as the warts may cause itching and irritation in the areas where they occur. They may as well cause bleeding during sexual intercourse. The other harmful aspect of this condition is that warts may weaken the walls of the vagina and compromise its stretchability which is vital to childbirth.
The other important fact to take into consideration is that sometimes an infected mother may transmit the virus to her child during natural vaginal birth. Talking about these cases it should be mentioned that the infected baby may develop growth in the airway, a condition called respiratory papillomatosis. As you understand this is a hazardous situation that may even call for a surgical incision in order to remove the airway blockage.
So, now you are aware of what genital warts and their main symptoms are. The second part of this article is devoted to the most common misdiagnosis.
Firstly you need to understand that it is truly essential to know the signs of genital warts as there are a few diseases with similar symptoms that are generally mistaken for venereal warts. As a matter of fact there are fairly similar lesions called hirsuties papillaris genitalis in men and vestibular papillae of the vulva in women that are actually benign though atypical skin conditions.
You should also know that the other common skin condition called Fordyce spots can be observed on the penis or vulva and may also be mistaken for warts. As well, it is vital to point out that there is a viral infection known as molluscum contagiosum. It is sexually transmitted disease in adults and shows analogous pearly lesions in the genital area. It should be stated here that this disease is less damaging than venereal warts.
How to Cure?
As it was already mentioned, genital warts can occasionally cause irritation, itching and bleeding. Besides, they are seen as consistent source of embarrassment so numerous people opt to have them removed. In order to do this prescription topical medications can be used. It is also important for you to take into account that there are doctor-performed procedures, for instance, cauterization, surgical incision, cryosurgery and laser removal. The point is that taking out genital warts does not guarantee elimination of the viral infection. Thus, the warts may clear altogether after treatment or happen again or even get worse over time.
Read more about genital warts in men and genital warts in women on the genital warts.
