HPV (human papillomavirus) is sexually transmitted disease 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 as well stated 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 and anal and other genital cancers.
The other crucial aspect of this disease that you should have knowledge of is that HPV is transmitted through contact with the skin or mucosal membrane of an infected individual during sexual activity. A latency stage may take place 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 truth is that most of warts are flesh or gray in color, often round, sometimes cauliflower in shape, and, besides, may be varied in size. It is additionally important to point out that sometimes the bumps are hardly noticeable due to the fact that they can be even smaller than the tip of a ballpoint pen.
As concerning women, it should be pointed out that the growths may appear on the vulva, in the walls of vagina or inside the cervix while talking about men, there is a need to mention that they generally 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 occur 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 rather 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 extremely unpleasant disease since the warts may cause itching and irritation in the areas where they occur. They may also cause bleeding during sexual intercourse. The other harmful feature of this condition is that warts may weaken the walls of the vagina and compromise its stretchability which is essential to childbirth.
The further principal fact to take into consideration is that sometimes an infected mother may transmit the virus to her baby 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 realize this is a hazardous situation that may even call for a surgical incision in order to remove the airway blockage.
So, now you know what genital warts and their most important symptoms are. The second part of this article is devoted to the most frequent misdiagnosis.
To start with you need to understand that it is truly crucial to know the signs of genital warts as there are a few diseases with comparable symptoms that are commonly mistaken for venereal warts. The truth is that there are rather similar lesions called hirsuties papillaris genitalis in men and vestibular papillae of the vulva in women that are actually benign though abnormal skin conditions.
It is also worth for you to bear in mind that the other frequent skin condition called Fordyce spots can be observed on the penis or vulva and may also be mistaken for warts. Likewise, 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 similar pearly lesions in the genital area. It should be mentioned here that this disease is less dangerous than venereal warts.
How to Cure?
As it was already mentioned, genital warts can infrequently cause irritation, itching and bleeding. As well, they are seen as consistent source of embarrassment as a result many folks pick to have them removed. In order to do this prescription topical medications can be used. It is also important for you to consider that there are doctor-performed procedures, for example, 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 reappear or even worsen over time.
Read more about genital warts in men and genital warts in women on the genital warts.
