Curing Genital Warts

Eye-Opening Facts About Genital Warts
By W. Darren

Genital warts, also referred to as venereal warts, are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). They are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD's).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 20 million HPV-infected people in the country today. Each year, around 6.2 million Americans get infected by HPV.

More than half of the population of sexually active men and women will be exposed to HPV at some stage in their lives. The infection is more prevalent in women, although men have been known to develop penile and anal cancer caused by some HPV types.

General Characteristics of Genital Warts

- Genital warts can manifest themselves around the penile, vaginal or anal areas, and can also be found inside the vagina and rectum.

- Wart sizes can vary from very tiny to large cauliflower-like clusters. They can appear as flat or as raised bumps on the skin. Some grow singularly while others tend to clump together.

- Because some warts are almost invisible and cause no pain, some people go through life unaware that they are infected.

- Genital warts are highly infectious. According to Dr. Fredrik F. Broekhuizen, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, genital HPV are not transferred by the exchange of bodily fluids, contrary to what some believe. They are passed through skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual.

- Warts may take months or sometimes years to appear after sexual contact with a HPV-infected individual.

- The warts are by themselves not painful and cannot directly affect a persons overall health. They can, however, be unsightly in extreme cases and may cause emotional problems between partners.

Genital Warts Treatment Options

- Most infected persons go untreated for genital warts. The warts will disappear over time but it can take years.

- Although treatment destroys the warts, there is still no known cure for HPV; it stays within the system for life. A strong immune system in an infected individual can control the virus' activity. According to the National Women's Health Resource Center, Less than 1% of HPV infection patients experience serious health problems.

- Paints or creams like podophyllotoxin (Condyline) swabbed directly on the genital warts. Since these can cause damage to surrounding healthy skin, a doctor or health worker is required to apply the medication especially if the patient has difficulty seeing the warts.

- Advanced cases of genital warts will require surgical procedures like wart excision, electrocauterization, cryotherapy and laser treatment.

- There is a chance that infection can recur after treatment since the virus remains in the system even after all the warts have been removed.

Keeping Genital Warts from Spreading

- Condoms are great safety barriers but they cannot provide total protection. Infected areas unshielded by the condom like the scrotum and anus can also transfer HPV through direct skin contact.

- Tiny warts that are almost invisible to the unaided eye are capable of transmitting the virus.

- HPV type 6 and 11 immunization for young girls and women before reaching the age of sexual maturity

- Educate the young people about relationships, sexual health and safer sex.

- Smoking brings down the immune system and increases the chance of contracting genital warts after HPV exposure.

For more information, kindly visit Genital Warts Support Team - a health resource dedicated to providing factual information about Men Genital Warts and Women Genital Warts. Do visit our popular topics: 1. Prevention of Genital Warts, and 2. Are Genital Warts Curable?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=W._Darren
http://EzineArticles.com/?Eye-Opening-Facts-About-Genital-Warts&id=2462991