Genital Warts FAQs
Genital warts are caused by sexually transmitted strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The skin manifests the virus by forming bumps in, on, or around the penis and vagina. Genital warts may be similar in appearance to warts on hands and feet although transmitted in different ways.
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Appearance
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Genital warts may appear in two different forms. Often they resemble small skin-toned cauliflower florets. According to the Mayo Clinic, they may alternately appear as small raised bumps without the dimpled appearance.
Symptoms
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Some people infected with genital warts, especially those hidden inside the vagina or around the anus, may never know they have them and they may be suppressed by the immune system without intervention. Others are aware of the infection because of itching, bleeding or observation of the raised bumps.
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Transmission
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Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease. The virus causing the warts affects the skin and reproductive organs only. A person must make genital-to-genital contact with a virus carrier to be infected.
Treatment
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There are two common ways to treat genital warts. A doctor may prescribe a topical cream that will make the wart shrink. Alternately, the warts can be surgically removed by freezing or excision depending on their location.
Prevention/Solution
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There is no cure for HPV. The warts can be treated; however, the virus will be assumed dormant in the body because there is no test for it. The best way to prevent genital warts is to abstain from having sexual intercourse. Condoms may not fully protect a person because the soft tissue around the reproductive organs is also susceptible. The HPV vaccine protects women against the most common strains of genital warts.
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