genital warts: overview, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment & prevention
Genital warts are a fleshy cauliflower- like growths on the private part. The warts are caused by human papilloma virus low risk serotypes 5, 6 and 11. High risk human papilloma virus 16 and 18 are responsible for cervical cancer in women. Over 300,000 persons between the age group of 17-37 develop genital warts yearly. Genital warts can be developed weeks, months or even years after sexual exposure. There are about serotypes of human papilloma viruses of which serotypes 5, 6, 11, and 18 most commonly affect the genital tract through sexual transmission.
Genital warts can occur in anybody but the following groups are more susceptible to the infection:
Warts caused by human papilloma virus can be single or multiple, raised, or flat. Perianal warts whilst being more commonly found in MSM, are also found in heterosexual men and in women. The commonest signs of genital warts are:
In some males, growth may be found in the urethral and this may make urination difficult. Genital warts in males apart from the penis may be found on the scrotum, groin, around the anus, lips, tongue, jaw, hands, foot, or throat of a person involved in oral sex.
For women, warts are not visible i.e. may not be found in the vulva inside the vaginal wall, cervix, or anus hence they feel a burning sensation, have intense itching, pain during intercourse and some may even bleed. Genital warts in pregnancy, may dramatically increase in size and number making treatment difficult. Rarely, they are large enough to obstruct labour and, in this case, delivery by caesarean section may be required. Rarely, mother-to-child transmission of HPV leads to anogenital warts, or possibly laryngeal tumours, in the newborn.
It may take weeks, months, or years after exposure before warts develop. Sometimes there are asymptomatic carriers of HPV that can infect others. Hence, genital warts may not necessarily translate to unfaithfulness of your partner in some instances, it could be that complicated.
The diagnosis can be made clinically by the doctor by taking history especially your sexual history and performing a physical examination. The doctor most times makes a “spot diagnosis” by just observation of your perianal area for visible warts.
For women, a full pelvic examination is performed with a pap smear from the cervix taken for further investigation to rule out cervical cancer. For both males and females, an instrument called protoscope may be introduced into your rectum for examination and to take samples for investigations.
Yes. A variety of treatments are available for established cases of genital warts. The following are treatment options on how to get rid of genital warts:
The prevention of warts and hence, Human Papilloma Virus follows the age-long slogan of HIV prevention which is Abstinence, Be faithful to your partner, Condom use (ABC of prevention). Condom can help prevent the transmission of HPV to non-infected partners, but it may affect parts not covered by the condom.
Vaccination against has been introduced and it on routine use in many countries including Nigeria. As at now, two types of the vaccine exist: the bivalent vaccine called cevarix protects against HPV types 16 and 18 which are the serotypes responsible for cervical cancer. The quadrivalent vaccine (gardasil) offers protection against HPV types 6 and 11, which are responsible for 90% of warts. To be effective, HPV vaccination should be taken before the onset of sexual activity, especially at age 11-13years, in a course of 3 injections. Vaccination does not protect against all forms of cancer- causing HPV, hence, routine cervical screening will be necessary.
Male circumcision at birth is an indirect method of prevention of warts.
This post was last modified on February 20, 2019 11:50 am