Genital Warts Are Not Fun: Prevention Is Key

When you have sex, there are many things to worry about. There’s pregnancy and then there are STD’s. When we hear about sexually transmitted diseases, we usually hear about HIV, AIDS, gonorrhea, or herpes.  However, the human papillomavirus (HPV) is something that absolutely should not be overlooked when it comes to threats to the body arising from sexual activity.  There are a variety of strains of HPVs.  Some have been linked to cancer both in the cervical area of women and the penis of men.  Other, more common strains, are the causal factor in genital warts.

 The warts are actually caused by a strain of HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus. Genital warts are not only unattractive but they can lead to cancer if not treated. The best thing to do, however, is practice prevention so that you don’t get genital warts in the first place. Always use a condom during sex and try to limit your sexual partners. These prevention techniques can protect against warts as well as a number of other STD’s. There is no cure for genital warts, but sometimes they will go away on their own. You can have them treated, however, for aesthetic reasons and for peace of mind.

What They Look Like

Genital warts are very unattractive. They are marked by white, cauliflower looking bumps on or around the penis or vagina. They can also be found around the anus in some individuals. These bumps are not only unsightly, but they can also cause great mental trauma in those that have them. That’s because they fear about other sexual partners finding out about them. Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases that are otherwise invisible, warts are hard to hide.

More specifically when considering what are genital warts caused by, they result when the viral particles are able to penetrate the skin or mucosal surfaces through any microscopic abrasions in the genital area which can occur during sexual activity. After the HPV virus invades cells there is a latency period of several months to years. Although most of the time two-thirds of people who had sexual contact with a partner with genital warts developed the warts themselves within three months. There is hope, however, because they can be treated. Doctors have had success freezing them off with liquid nitrogen. This can lead to scarring but it can get rid of the genital warts that are causing so much stress to the sufferer.

Creams and Other Treatments

There are creams and other treatments that have shown promise in getting rid of genital warts. These creams are prescribed by your doctor and should never be used unless approved. Most are prescription strength, so ask your doctor if they’ve heard of them. If you’re too embarrassed to see a doctor about genital warts, do it for yourself and also for any future sexual partners. After all, you don’t want to spread them to other people if you can help it. So make sure you seek out treatment as there are several treatment options available.

There is no cure for HPV or genital warts, but sometimes a person’s immune system will eradicate them on its own. The best thing to do if you have genital warts is to see your doctor. You should do this not only for your own peace of mind, but also the health of any of your future sexual partners. Having this STD isn’t the end of the world, though it can seem that way to anyone who suffers from them. The most important thing you want to keep in mind is that, if left untreated, genital warts can lead to cancer, especially in women. So if you have genital warts, or even if you just think you might have them, see your doctor immediately and get some genital wart treatment for this unsightly and embarrassing STD.