Genital warts
Wart; warts; genital; sexually; transmitted; infection; disease; vagina; penis; papilloma; HPV; STD; STI; Pap; cancer; cervix; smear; condylomatum; acuminatum; condylomata; acuminata; immunisation.;
Contents
Genital warts are one of the most common infections that can be caught from sexual activity (sexually transmitted infections - STIs). They are caused by viruses called human papillomaviruses (HPV). More than 25% of sexually active young people have HPV infections, and more than 80% of sexually active women will have HPV at some stage in their lives.
There are about 40 different types of HPV causing infections in the genital area, and about 25 of them can cause genital warts. HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90 percent of genital warts The immunisations that are being given to protect women against the HPV that cause cervical cancer also protect women from HPV types 6 and 11.
- Genital warts can appear around the vagina, penis or anus (back passage), and also inside the rectum (lower bowel) or vagina.
- Genital warts generally come in clusters and may be either flat or raised from the skin, and some have a 'cauliflower' appearance.
- Most people who have HPV infections do not have visible warts.
How are they spread?
- Genital warts are spread through direct skin to skin contact with an infected person.
- HPVs which cause warts are most infectious when there are warts, but they can spread at other times as well.
- HPVs are very infectious.
How long do they take to develop?
- It may take a few weeks to many months, in some cases years, for warts to appear following sex with an infected person.
Health problems from HPV
- Visible genital warts hardly ever cause 'health' problems. People do not like having warts, and the warts may not be acceptable to partners.
Cervical cancer and HPV infections
- When some types of HPV infect the cervix of the uterus, they cause changes to cells on the surface of the cervix. About 15 types of HPV cause infections of the cervix. These types do not cause genital warts.
- Often these cells return to normal without any treatment, but sometimes they do not, and there is an increased risk of developing cancer of the cervix.
- HPV infections are very common, cervical cancer is rare, but it is one of the most frequent causes of death from cancer, especially in developing countries.
- These changes can be found by doing a Pap smear, and the cancer can be prevented by treating the abnormal cells.
- See the topic 'Human papillomavirus (HPV) - immunisation' for more information about cervical cancer and the immunisation now being given to help protect women from common types of HPV infections.
How are genital warts treated?
- Most people do not have genital warts treated. They will go away eventually if they are not treated, but this can take a long time.
- Treatment removes the visible warts, but does not get rid of the wart virus.
- Genital warts need to be treated by a doctor or other health care worker because it is difficult for a person to see the warts.
- There are several different ways that warts can be treated:
- Cryotherapy: freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen or dry ice once a week until the wart disappears,
- Paints or creams placed onto the warts (these will damage normal skin, so they have to be put on very carefully),
- Laser treatment is used if the warts are hard to get to, or if other treatments do not work.
- If warts come back after they have been treated, it does not mean that the person has caught the warts again. The virus lives in the body even when there is no wart, and this virus can be reactivated and cause warts again.
- If a person has genital warts he or she should have a full check up for other sexually transmitted infections.
Preventing the spread of HPV
- HPV causing genital warts is easiest to pass on when there are visible warts, but the virus can be spread before warts appear and after they go away.
- People with visible warts can reduce the risk of spreading HPV infection by having the warts treated as soon as they appear.
- People who do not have visible warts may pass the infection on without realising.
- Using a condom will only protect the areas of skin that are shielded by the condom.
- Immunisation of girls and young women before they become sexually active can protect them from 2 of the most common HPV types which cause genital warts and 2 of the most common viruses that cause infections of the cervix. This immunisation has started recently in Australia. See the topic 'Human papillomavirus (HPV) - immunisation' for more information.
What parents can do
- Make sure young people receive education about relationships and safer sex, eg using condoms.
- The use of condoms will greatly reduce the likelihood of catching many sexually transmitted infections, and can give some protection from genital warts.
- Encourage young people to seek information about sexual health and safer sex. There are several topics in the Teen Health section of this site which may be useful to them.
Resources in South Australia
References
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
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