Overview
Genital warts are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that appear as warts (soft growths or bumps) around the genitals and rectum.
They are caused by low-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The warts are usually small and skin-coloured but noticeable. Anyone sexually active is exposed to complications of HPV, including genital warts.
Key facts
- Genital warts are caused by HPV 6 and HPV 11, which are different from the high-risk strains of the virus that causes cancer.
- It appears as small skin-coloured bumps on men’s penis, scrotum, or groyne.
- In women, the bumps appear on the vagina, vulva, vaginal lips, and cervix
- Warts can also appear on the anus, rectum, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat.
- Symptoms of genital warts may go away on their own or require treatment.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The symptoms of genital warts include:
- Small, flesh-coloured growths in your genital area
- Sometimes, warts cluster together in the shape of cauliflower
- Burning sensation
- Itching or discomfort in your genital area
- Bleeding during sex
Genital warts can be flat and too small to notice. Warts can also appear on the lips, tongue, and throat of persons who have had oral sex with infected persons.
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will diagnose genital warts by examining the affected area. Internal warts are usually more challenging to diagnose. In this case, your doctor might conduct the following;
- Blood tests: A blood sample will be collected to test for STIs associated with genital warts, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and HPV.
- Pelvic exam: A pap smear may be conducted for a woman to check for abnormalities caused by genital warts. Also, colposcopy and biopsy might be requested by your doctor.
Anal exam: An anoscope might be used to examine around and inside your anus for genital warts.
Causes
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts.
There are over 40 strains of HPV, and most people who are sexually active will get one once in their lifetime. The HPV strains that cause genital warts are HPV 6 and HPV 11. They spread through sexual contact, and you can be infected by people who do not show symptoms.
Prevention
If you’re sexually active, then you should take these precautionary measures against genital warts:
- Use condoms.
- Get the HPV vaccine.
- Get routine testing and any needed treatment for STDs.
- Stick to only one sexual partner to reduce your risk of exposure
Treatment
Genital warts may go away on their own. However, several treatment options may be applied in cases where they don’t. You may need more than one to get rid of warts completely. In most treatment options, anaesthesia is applied to numb the pain they might cause.
Some of the treatment options include;
- Electrocautery: This is done by using an electric current to burn away warts.
- During cryotherapy: Your healthcare provider will apply liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy warts.
- Laser treatment: A laser light is used to destroy tiny blood vessels inside warts by cutting off their blood supply
- Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): In the LEEP procedure, your healthcare provider uses an electrically charged wire loop to extract warts. This method is mainly used to remove warts inside a woman’s cervix.
- Topical (skin) medicine: Your healthcare provider will use a chemical solution to warts to cause blisters around them, cutting off their blood supply. This will be done once a week, directly applied to warts by your provider. In some cases, appropriate topical medication like Imiquimod ( Aldara) will be given to be self-administered at home for some weeks as directed.
- Surgery: This is the last treatment option to remove warts that do not respond to other treatments
Conclusion
Genital warts appear as small, soft, skin-coloured growths on the genital areas of sexually active people. Sometimes, it can appear on the anus, lips, throat, and tongue. It is caused by a non-cancerous strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts may go away on their own, but sometimes they require treatment that your healthcare provider will prescribe.
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