Genital Warts 101
Vanna has got almost everything she had dreamed of since she was a little girl: a successful career in a corporate office that pays her well, well-connected with people and popular among her friends, regular night outs and partying, a steady stream of guys courting and taking her out on dates.
She has, however, one thing she never thought she would have: genital warts. Never had she imagined she would get it; she has always been careful. She did not know where she got it from; what started as red spots has now developed into something very visible and ugly.
Warts (or in scientific terms, verrucae) are benign growths on the skin or on the mucous membranes that can cause not only cosmetic problems, but also pain and discomfort. As it involves the skin, they can be found in almost any part of the body – the hands, the knees, the feet, eyelids and on the face. All warts are caused by a virus, HPV (human papilloma virus) and are highly contagious. They occur on people of all ages, but most often with children and teenagers. Incubation period is 2 to 9 months, and at this later stage, an excessive proliferation of skin happens. In most cases (more than 50%), warts disappear on their own. Commonly transmitted by touch or by skin contact, warts can be a source of embarrassment for the infected person, especially if they are clearly visible in clusters or in lumps. As with most viruses, HPV has many strains. Types 6 & 11 are the most common cause of genital warts.
Also known as venereal warts or condylomata acuminate, genital warts are a classification of warts that are found on human genitalia. For the male, they may occur at the tip or at the shaft of the penis, the scrotum or the anus. In women, they develop on the vulva, the walls of the vagina, the area between the external genitals and the anus. They are small, flesh-coloured bumps. Sometimes, they may also appear to resemble a cauliflower. They may either appear sporadically or in groups. They are also considered one of the most common types of sexually transmitted diseases. What is alarming is that they can also be found in the area around the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with the infected person.
Genital warts behave like normal warts, because infection can be transmitted through sexual contact, but the victim might not notice the symptoms until it develops which may take at least three months from the initial infection. In some cases, it may lie dormant for several years. Pregnancy, however, can either trigger or worsen the infection in women.
Since the infected person would only know he or she got infected when the warts appear, one should take some necessary precautions. This would include preventing trauma in the area, preventing transmitting it to a partner and making sure one does not pick or squeeze the warts.
For medical treatment, there are a variety of things one can do. However, not one single treatment is effective in eliminating and preventing genital warts from coming back. In 20-30% of the cases, genital warts can disappear without treatment within 3-4 months. Some of the treatments for genital warts are laser treatment, electrodessication, cryosurgery, keratolysis, infrared coagulator, duct tape occlusion therapy and surgical excision. The latter has a 63-91% cure rate. Topical applications of medicines such as podophyllum resin, podofilox, trichloroacetic acid, Interferon alpha-n3 and imiquimod are also sometimes effective. Because of the strong chemical composition of these topical medications, though, they are not recommended for genital warts, particularly for those on the cervical area. Also, as they are readily absorbed by the skin, they are not recommended for pregnant women as they might cause complications to the unborn baby.
While these treatment options have proven a certain degree of success, they do not guarantee completely wiping out the virus. Warts treatment remove the warts, but they do not remove the HPV. They have a chance to recur, thus it is highly recommended taking precautionary measures in making sure that the chance of passing them on to others will be slim. Women who have been completely treated for genital warts are advised to visit their obstetrician-gynecologist regularly for a pap smear. This is because the disease, whether one is cured or not, puts the person in high risk of cervical cancer. Certain types of HPV are connected to cancer of the vulva, the anus and the penis, though it does not necessarily come to that. Condoms can control the infection. However, they can only do so to a certain degree. However, one has to remember that any skin to skin contact can transmit genital warts. Keeping in mind some risk factors like having unprotected sex with multiple partners, having had another sexually transmitted disease and having sex with a partner whose sexual history you do not know can help limit the spread of the virus.
