Genital Warts: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Genital warts are frequent sexually transmitted infections observed in the genital or anal area, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The infection spreads through skin-to-skin contact during sex. The warts are found in clusters or separately and usually appear in the genital or anal area.
Symptoms of Genital Warts
- Small Growths or Bumps: Genital warts usually show as small, skin-coloured or grey growths or bumps on or near the genitals. They can be flat, raised or look like miniature cauliflower bumps and can vary in size.
- Itching or Discomfort: Genital warts can cause itching, irritation or discomfort in the affected area, though they are often painless.
- Bleeding During Sex: Warts may bleed, in some cases, during sex or when touched.
- Rough or Bumpy Texture: The skin in and around warts may look and feel rough or bumpy.
Multiple Warts Genital warts usually appear in clusters or groups and might become more significant or higher in number over time.
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Get A Second OpinionWhen to see a doctor?
One should see the doctor as soon as they experience any genital wart symptoms or learn about their partner's warts. Experiencing itching, burning sensations on the skin of the genital area or pain during sexual activity may also hint at the presence of infection even if you can’t see genital warts.
Causes of Genital Warts
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes genital warts. They are frequently transmitted by
- Stool electron microscopy
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR test)
- Enzyme-linked immunoassay (Elisa test)
- Latex agglutination test
Many HPV patients are ignorant of their condition. Genital warts can take months or even years to appear after exposure to HPV. Even if you haven't yet started to get warts, you can still spread the virus to other people. Over 100 different HPV strains and 40 of them affect the genitalia.
Cervical cancer can develop due to abnormal cell changes from high-risk HPV strains. For this reason, women should get routine cervical screens to detect any abnormalities in their cervix that, if left untreated, might develop into cancer.
Risk Factors of Genital Warts
Most people who engage in sexual activity eventually get genital HPV infection. One may be more susceptible to getting an infection if:
- Having a compromised immune system, such as from HIV or drugs from an organ transplant.
- Having had another sexually transmitted infection
- Having unprotected sex with multiple partners.
- Becoming sexually active at a young age.
- Having sex with a partner whose sexual history you don't know.
- From infected mother to baby during vaginal delivery.
- Sharing intimate and personal items.
Complications of Genital Warts
Genital warts, while generally not life-threatening, can lead to various complications if not treated properly:
- Cancer Risk: If left untreated or incomplete, genital warts can leave behind high-risk HPV strains that could cause cancer at the injection site. Women with genital warts have an increased risk for cervical cancer as well as vulvar, vaginal or anal cancers. Prostate cancer, which occurs in men, can affect the penis, scrotum, or anus.
- Pregnancy Complications: In severe cases, genital warts become large enough to block the urethra and vaginal passages, resulting in pain and difficulty with urination and labour. This can affect the vagina’s ability to stretch properly during birthing. Also, if the woman is in labour, warts can bleed under pressure.
- Transmission to the Baby During Childbirth: Rarely, the baby can be exposed to genital warts during vaginal childbirth. These warts can also develop in the baby’s throat, causing breathing problems that sometimes need to be treated with surgery to remove the warts.
Prevention of Genital Warts
Genital warts are spread via direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, particularly during vaginal or anal intercourse. HPV may be transmitted even in the absence of visible signs or warts. To prevent genital warts, try the following precautions:
Get the HPV vaccination: Vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) can significantly lower the chances of developing genital warts and cervical cancer.
Use condoms: Condoms do lower the risk of transmission but do not protect all areas of skin that could potentially harbour the virus. They do not prevent the transmission of HPV 100%.
Get Regular STI Tested: Make sure you and your partner get tested for STIs. Talk about test results before having sex.
Be in a Monogamous Relationship: Having fewer sexual partners reduces the risk of getting STIs like genital warts.
Diagnosis of Genital Warts
Genital warts are usually diagnosed during a physical examination by a healthcare provider. You may utilize the following methods:
- Physical Examination: The doctor will visually check the genital area for warts or unusual growths. Genital warts are usually diagnosed based on their characteristic appearance.
- Colposcopy: If warts are not obviously plain, A unique, magnifying instrument known as a colposcopy will be used to thoroughly check the genital area, making it easier for her to see small warts that may be missed.
- Acetic Acid Test: Applying acetic acid solution to a wart may cause a white colour change, making it easier to identify during examination.
- Biopsy: If warts are strange-looking or persistent, a wart may be removed and examined by a laboratory. This helps eliminate other conditions and test for high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cancer.
- HPV Testing: An HPV test is not always necessary for genital warts as low-risk HPV types cause most cases, but it may be recommended, especially in women, to check for the presence of high-risk strains that contribute to the chances of cervical or anal cancer.
- Blood tests: The doctor may check for other STDs that are frequently linked to genital warts. Chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhoea are some of these STDs.
Treatment for Genital Warts
Genital warts can be treated and removed, but they sometimes reappear. The infection that causes them has no known cure, but the body may eventually eliminate it. Warts can be removed using various methods and creams and lotions over time. In most cases, genital warts break out and go away on their own.
Treatments for genital warts include
- Topical medication: Applying cream or liquid directly on warts for a few days each week.
- Cryotherapy: Liquid nitrogen is applied to the region by a doctor during numerous sessions causing blisters to develop around warts that eventually fall off.
- Electrocautery: After giving local anaesthetic to the patient, a doctor will use electrocautery to remove the wart.
- Laser treatment: A physician uses an intense light beam to eliminate warts.
- Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): In this procedure, the healthcare provider uses an electrically charged wire loop to remove warts. This method is also used to remove warts on a woman’s cervix.
- Surgery: Before removing warts, a surgeon gives a local anaesthetic to the patient. Although the treatments are not unpleasant, they could feel uncomfortable or irritated for a few days.
- Over-the-counter painkillers: The effectiveness of the medicines might take weeks or even months. The therapies are ineffective for some persons, and others can experience a reappearance of warts.
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Book an AppointmentGenital Warts Dos and Don’ts
The human papillomavirus, also called HPV, is the virus that causes warts, which are elevated skin sores. Although they can affect many body parts, they most frequently affect the fingers, feet, and genitalia. Liquid nitrogen can be used to cure larger warts. There may be a need for laser therapy or surgical removal. Warts frequently recur, requiring further treatment. One might need to consult a dermatologist for removal in some conditions.
|
Do’s |
Don’ts |
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Apply medicines as instructed. |
Scratch your warts |
|
Use condoms during intercourse |
Apply the medicine to warts that are bleeding. |
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Keep follow-up health care provider appointments until all warts are gone |
Have multiple sex partners |
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Maintain personal hygiene |
Skip follow-up appointments |
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Get tested for other STDs. |
Eat unhealthy junk, and processed foods. |
Genital warts may ultimately go away on their own without treatment, but HPV is still contagious. One may combat the ailment effectively and enhance the quality of life by taking precautions and caring for yourself.
Genital Warts Care at Medicover Hospitals
At Medicover Hospitals, we have the best team of gynaecologists and general surgeons who collaborate to deliver the best possible therapy for genital warts. Our highly qualified team addresses a variety of gynaecological disorders and conditions using the most up-to-date medical tools, techniques, and technology. We use a multidisciplinary approach to treat genital warts to give patients comprehensive treatment and address their health requirements for a speedier and more complete recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are genital warts contagious?
Yes, genital warts are contagious because they are caused by the HPV virus. Unfortunately, there is no cure for HPV, so once you have it, you can always pass it on to others. This means that even if you don't have any visible warts or have them removed, you can still transmit the virus to someone else.
How soon do genital warts appear after infection?
Genital warts can show up shortly after getting infected with HPV, but sometimes it can take a while - even years. This makes it tricky to figure out exactly when you contracted the warts. Plus, you could have the virus without any visible warts, potentially spreading it without realizing it.
How long do genital warts last?
Genital warts and HPV can stick around for a long time. Even if you get rid of them once, they might make a comeback. The effectiveness of wart removal treatments varies from person to person. If you're dealing with genital warts, it's a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider to figure out the best removal method for you.
What are the complications of genital warts?
Genital warts usually don't lead to any major health issues. The type of HPV responsible for genital warts is considered low-risk. It's important to note that the strains of HPV that cause cancer are different from the ones that cause genital warts.
Is it OK to remove genital warts?
It's possible to treat genital warts, but unfortunately, they can't be completely cured. Even if you remove the warts, the HPV virus that causes them will still be present in your body. The virus may disappear on its own eventually, but there's no guarantee. Some individuals may experience warts reappearing, while others may not.
