Genital warts are growths or bumps that appear:
The warts may be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large. Some may cluster to form a cauliflower-like shape. This condition is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Most people will be exposed to a form of HPV at some point in their lives. Not everyone will become infected or develop symptoms.
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a family of more than 80 common viruses. Many types of HPV cause harmless skin warts . These warts are often found on the fingers or feet. Only a few types are thought to cause genital warts.
HPV is easily spread during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. About two-thirds of people who have sex with a partner who has genital warts will also develop them. Warts can take several weeks or months to appear.
Risk factors for HPV and genital warts include:
Genital warts often look like fleshy, raised growths. They have a cauliflower shape. They often appear in clusters.
In women, warts may be found in the following areas:
In men, warts are less common. If present, they are usually found in these areas:
The following symptoms may also occur:
Most strains of HPV that produce genital warts do not cause cancer. But certain strains may cause cervical cancer . Less commonly, cancers of the vulva, anus, or penis occur. It is important for women to have yearly Pap tests . This test can detect any HPV related problems.
Genital warts may get larger during pregnancy. This may make it hard to urinate. Warts in or near the vaginal opening may also block the birth canal during delivery.
Genital warts may be diagnosed by:
A doctor can diagnose genital warts by looking at them. If external warts are found on a woman, then the cervix is usually also checked. A doctor may use a special solution to help find lesions that do not have classic features.
If you get abnormal Pap test results, this may indicate HPV. But, your doctor will order more accurate tests, like a colposcopy , to diagnose HPV.
During a colposcopy, the doctor uses a special device to see if warts are in the cervix and vagina. For a biopsy , the doctor takes a tissue sample and tests it.
During an HPV test , a swab of cells from the affected area can be checked for certain types of HPV.
Your treatment depends on the size and location of the warts. Treatment helps the symptoms, but does not cure the virus. The virus stays in your body. Warts or other problems may recur.
Treatments may include:
Your doctor may recommend one of these medications to be applied to the affected areas:
Methods that instantly destroy warts include:
These methods are used on small warts and on large warts that have not responded to other treatment. A large wart can also be removed surgically. For warts that keep coming back, an antiviral drug, called alpha-interferon, can be injected into the wart.
The only way to completely prevent HPV from spreading is to avoid physical contact with an infected partner.
Latex condoms may help reduce the spread of HPV infection and genital warts. Condoms are not 100% effective. They do not cover the entire genital area.
Other ways to prevent infection include:
A new vaccine , Gardasil, prevents infection by some, but not all, of the HPV strains that cause cervical cancer. The vaccine is routinely recommended for girls 11-12 years old. It has been found safe for females 9-26 years old.
In trials, the vaccine was linked to a reduced number of precancerous lesions on the cervix. *¹
Genital warts are rare in children. This diagnosis may indicate sexual abuse. Abuse needs to be reported.
RESOURCES:
American Social Health Association
http://www.ashastd.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/std/
Planned Parenthood
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/
Sex Information and Education Council of Canada
http://www.sieccan.org/
References:
Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 17th ed. Philadelphia PA: Saunders; 2004.
Chang TY, Brashear R. Warts, genital. Emedicine website. Available at: http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic454.htm . Updated February 2007. Accessed June 24, 2008.
Condyloma acuminatum. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated June 2008. Accessed June 24, 2008.
Dunne, EF, Markowitz, LE. Genital human papillomavirus infection. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 43:624.
Genital warts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2006/genital-warts.htm . Published 2006. Accessed June 24, 2008.
Hanna E, Bachmann G. HPV vaccination with Gardasil: a breakthrough in women's health [review]. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2006;6:1223-1227.
HPV Vaccine Information For Young Women. CDC website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/Hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm . Accessed 2/20/2009.
Human papillomavirus and genital warts. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease website. Available at: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/human_papillomavirus/ . Updated June 2007. Accessed June 24, 2008.
Lowy DR, Schiller JT. Papillomaviruses and cervical cancer: pathogenesis and vaccine development. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1998;23:27-30.
McLemore MR. Gardasil: introducing the new human papillomavirus vaccine. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2006;10:559-560.
New vaccine prevents cervical cancer. FDA Consum. 2006;40:37.
*¹5/18/2007 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : The FUTURE II Study Group. Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent high-grade cervical lesions. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:1915-1927.
*²5/11/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Winer RL, Feng Q, Hughes JP, O'Reilly S, Kiviat NB, Koutsky LA. Risk of female human papillomavirus acquisition associated with first male sex partner. J Infect Dis. 2008;197:279-282.
Last reviewed January 2009 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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