Genital warts are one of the most widely spread sexually transmitted diseases, but a lot of people still lack the knowledge regarding the nature of the said condition, how it is spread, and how to prevent or treat it. Clear, reliable, and updated information about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts is hard to find. The result of this unfortunate reality is the non-stop circulation of myths and misconceptions about genital warts.
Wrong information may bring about a lot of physical and emotional negative consequences to the sufferer. The person may suffer from extreme anxiety regarding his/her condition, undergo a painful and costly treatment method that otherwise could have been avoided.
Here are the most common myths and misconceptions to make readers understand what HPV and genital warts are.
Myth #1: Only women can be infected with HPV and contract genital warts.
Fact: The probability of getting infected with HPV and having genital warts is more or less the same for both sexes. However, genital warts symptoms seem to manifest more on women since their anatomy is a conducive breeding ground for HPV compared to that of men. The moist and warm environment of a woman's vagina makes it a prime location for the HPV to thrive in and multiply.
Myth #2: I can only get infected with genital warts through unprotected sex.
Fact: There is no doubt that engaging in unprotected sex raises your chances of being infected with HPV. The virus can also be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Hence, some forms of barrier protection such as condoms won't completely shield you against several STDs since they do not cover the whole genital region. HPV can also be spread through oral sex, manifesting in the form of warts in the throat and mouth areas. In addition, studies have shown that the virus can be passed on through direct contact with fomites, which are contaminated physical objects like bath towels and medical equipment.
Myth #3: The appearance of genital warts is the only thing that indicates their presence.
Fact: HPV, when spread, can remain in an incubation phase that can last from as fast as a couple of weeks to as long as several years. Hence, the symptoms of genital warts will most likely not appear immediately. In fact, a carrier of HPV may forever remain unaware that the virus is still within his/her system. Experts estimate that only approximately 1 percent of all sexually active Americans have visible genital warts.
Myth #4: Genital warts automatically lead to cervical cancer.
Fact: A different strain of HPV causes genital warts. These HPV strains are completely not linked to those that are known to cause cervical cancer, specifically types 45, 31, 18, and 16. Genital warts are caused by low-risk HPV strains, namely 44, 43, 42, 11, and 6.
Myth #5: If I have had genital warts, I will most definitely experience recurrent episodes for the rest of my life.
Fact: There are some cases wherein genital warts recur. However, they do so in different levels of persistence. However, if the immune system becomes compromised through temporary trauma such as stress, surgery, or serious illness, or through the intake of certain drugs, it may not be able to stop the reactivation of HPV so genital warts may resurface.
Sure, it’s not the typical lunch room conversation topic, but most of know the basics, like... it’s a sexually transmitted disease ...it’s embarrassing... and... we all hope we never get it!
Unfortunately few of us know the real facts. Facts like this: HPV (human papillomavirus) is the culprit, HPV can lead to Cervical Cancer, and 25 percent of women think that Pap tests prevent it.
But, contrary to what most websites (and even some doctors) would have you believe... it’s not all bad news. No, in fact, when you know ALL of the facts, HPV is not as scary as it might sound. The best news is that genital warts are very treatable and there have been major advancements in the medical world to treat the dreaded virus, not to mention ways to boost your own immune system to deal with it as much as possible.
Not All HPV types are Created Equal
There are literally hundreds of the human papillomavirus types, but only thirty of them are sexually transmitted. The other little troublemakers show up as warts on the hands, feet, eyeballs or other parts of the body when you come in contact with the skin of someone infected with the virus.
So what happens when you find out your partner is infected with the sexually ...and terribly embarrassing... form? Do you panic and wait for massive outbreaks in unspeakable regions? Interestingly enough, only about fifteen viruses will ever show up. Most can be fought off by your immune system, given enough time and provided you are a healthy person (also not smoking and staying out of stressful situations can help too.) In these situations, you might never see or be aware that you were ever infected.
But what about the fifteen remaining culprits? This is where you’ve got to be especially careful! In these cases, genital warts may crop up and should be treated while your body tries to fight off the virus. Not only do these HPV types cause trouble, they can lead to Cervical Cancer if left unchecked.
The Day You Discover You Have It Can Be A Nasty Surprise
HPV is more common than most people would ever guess. In fact, the chances are that at any rodeo, race track or other social event, there is an all out viral attack going on inside the jeans of three out of four people you see. White hair and a senior citizen status don’t nix the chances of infection, either. If you’ve reached your 50th birthday, you have a whopping 80% chance of having had the virus in your lifetime.
Why would a virus be so common that it’s perfectly normal for women in their teens and early 20s to test positive? Because the virus is spread just by touching infected skin. You know what that means? Intercourse isn’t necessarily the culprit and no, condoms don’t always do the trick. If you touch an infected penis or scrotum with your skin, bingo... you’ve got it.
Genital Warts – More Bark than Bite
Out of all the STD's you could possibly have, genital warts are probably the most tame. The worst part of it is probably the embarrassment factor, because these types rarely progress into anything serious or threaten fertility – unlike more serious STDs such as Chlamydia or Gonorrhea.
Within as little as one week to six months of contracting genital warts, you’ll notice the appearance of warts or clusters of warts – usually white or flesh colored. The sizes range from tiny little bumps to larger growths the size of a pea. Don’t freak out... these problematic growths usually don’t burn or bleed, but can sometimes itch.
It's important to remember that once you’ve discovered genital warts, your sex life is not forever in ruins and your life is not over. You just need some help. I've helped a lot of people from this point forward, but as far as your gynecologist or doctor goes, they can prescribe a cream, however many people have reported it to badly burn and a lot of times not work very well anyway. It's also fairly expensive, especially when you have to go back and get more of it next time. Another option they might suggest is getting the warts frozen or burnt off. Sometimes this works for people, but many report the warts returning within three to four months.
When it comes to genital warts, just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean that the virus isn’t busy at work. The only way to be sure that it’s safe to have unprotected sex is to have your gynecologist check with a special magnifying glass. After about two years of no new eruptions, you’ve probably kicked the virus.
When something like HPV is so easily spread, we expect that every gynecologist will test for it along with the yearly exam and PAP. Right? Wrong! Here’s the deal...
Almost ALL of us would have a positive HPV test should we be tested annually. But not all HPV viruses are worth even worrying about. They show no symptoms and our bodies beat them up and kick them out without us ever knowing it. So why have most of the women across America sweating it out for nothing?
Another reason? Who would guess that HMO’s would be concerned with the cost-effectiveness of the test? So until you turn 30, or have symptoms that concern you, don’t expect a test. Before 30, a PAP smear that checks the cervical cell is probably all you’ll need or get.
What happens at 30? HPV that is still hanging around and hasn’t been beaten by then could be cause for concern. At that point your gynecologist will want to watch closely to be sure cervical cells are not being affected, changing and become early stage cancer cells.
Cervical Cell Changes... Then What?
About 5 percent of the 55 million PAP tests performed each year come back ASCUS (indicating an undetermined abnormality). If this happens to you, don’t start an all out panic attack yet. The lab will retest the cell sample for HPV. If the results are negative, the abnormal PAP was due to an inflammation.
What if it’s not negative? The next step is a colposcopy, a procedure that let’s your doctor get a close up look at the cervical cells. If there’s nothing suspicious, a six month follow-up PAP will be scheduled. Any threatening looking cells will be sent off for a biopsy.
It gets scarier sounding by the moment, but even if you have cells sent for a biopsy the chances that you have anything to worry about are only 50/50. So keep your head on your shoulders and remember that most of the cases disappear on their own.
If after two years the cells haven’t cleared up, your gynecologist may want to get rid of them using a scalpel, laser treatment or an electric current.
An HSIL (high grade cervical change) result is more cause for concern than the ASCUS. This means that precancerous or cancerous cell changes have been noted. You can expect a colposcopy, a biopsy, and even immediate removal of the cancerous cells.
The Shot That Prevents HPV From Getting Out Of Control
In 2006 the FDA approved a shot (for women only) that is nearly 100 percent effective for the two types of HPV that are the culprits in 90 percent of genital wart outbreaks. Better yet, it also protects against two virus types that 70 percent of cervical cancer cases stem from.
Just three shots in a six month period can keep you HPV free. Who can get these shots? Females between the ages of 9 and 26. The shot is intended to protect females by immunizing them before they become sexually active.
That may be good for them, but... what about the rest of us?
Once you’ve reached 27, you’ve probably already been exposed to the virus. Some gynecologists argue that women over 26 may not have been exposed to all of the virus types the shot targets and would also benefit from it. The only drawback is that the effectiveness of the shot has not been tested on women over 27. Should your gynecologist suggest that you get it, regardless, you may want to consider both the pros and the cons.
Don’t throw away the condoms and safe sex rules! There are still cervical cancer causing types of the HPV that you aren’t protected from. A vaccine targeting these four types is expected to be introduced soon. And another thing to think about... the shots are so new that they don’t even know yet whether you’ll need a booster shot every five years to stay protected!
Safe is Best!
Did you know that for every partner you slide between the sheets with during a month, your chances of contracting HPV increase ten times? It pays to put the breaks on your sex life, if it means living longer.
Smoking too is a cause for concern for gynecologists who detect cervical abnormalities. Their advice to women is to QUIT. Yes, I know it’s easier said than done, but women who have HPV are 67 percent more likely to have cervical cell changes.
Here’s the easy one... eat more pink and red fruits. Dining on a succulent and divine watermelon or eating a fresh vine-ripe tomato isn’t hard to do. The great part is that while we’re enjoying the delicious taste lycopene, an antioxidant, is invading your body and fighting for you. In fact, eating these two foods can decrease long-term infections from cancer causing HPV types by a whopping 56 percent!
As for men and those of you who have already contracted the virus or are out of range to benefit from the vaccine, you CAN be helped. Check out my website for pictures and more information.
Sick and tired of all the scams and disinformation on the internet about successful genital warts treatment options, Greg Thompson has helped thousands overcome genital warts after his personal experience prompted him to write The Genital Warts Report and create a website of the same name at http://www.GenitalWartsReport.com
Genital warts is one of the two most commonly spread sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) caused by a virus. The other is genital herpes. The disease is caused by the human papilloma virus often abbreviated as hpv.
The wart like lesions that appear with this STD are called condyloma acuminate. They look like small, flesh colored growths in the genital and anal region. Research indicates that 10-40% of women who are sexually active are infected with hpv. Both men and women can transmit and receive the virus and the presence of the hpv is not always accompanied by the appearance of genital warts.
Routes of Transmission
Genital warts are spread through direct contact with an infected person during vaginal, anal, or oral sexual contact. Approximately sixty percent of people who have sexual contact with someone who has genital warts will develop symptoms themselves, usually within three months of the encounter.
The human papilloma virus penetrates through tiny abrasions in the genital area that occur during sexual activity. Once the virus is in the body it become latent or inactive for several weeks, months, or sometimes even years. Typically it takes about three months for the first symptoms to appear, but it could take much longer or much less time.
Penetrating sex is not necessary for the spread of hpv. Studies have proven that sexual contact of any kind with an infected person can spread the virus. An infected person is able to spread the virus to a non-infected partner even when there is no outward or visible signs of genital warts.
In rare cases, adults or children may be infected indirectly. For example, using an infected person's towel can cause an infection if rubbed against the genitals. Also, babies may be infected through a vaginal delivery of a mother with genital warts.
HPV, the cause of Genital Warts
There are more than 100 different types of the human papilloma virus, and over 40 of these can infect the genitals through sexual contact. These specific strains of HPV are highly contagious. Because of the long incubation period, many people may be unaware that they are infected and continue to spread the virus through sexual contact.
Genital Warts Symptoms
The most common genital warts symptoms are the appearance of the warts themselves. Generally they are painless but might cause irritation and itching depending on their size and location. It is not uncommon to develop the warts in more than one area.
In men specifically, genital warts can infect the urethra, scrotum, penis, and rectal areas. The warts will appear as soft, smooth, raised masses when on the penile shaft. Or, they can appear as anal warts, in which the growth is rough and protruding. The lesions will be raised, and only rarely will they appear flat with just a slight elevation above the skin.
In women, genital warts symptoms may not be noticeable if the warts are located inside the vagina where they are undetectable. However, the lesions most commonly occur in the labia minora and around the vaginal opening. Many times no symptoms at all are experienced aside from the appearance of growths (warts). In rare cases, women may experience bleeding following sexual intercourse when infected with HPV.
Genital Warts Treatment
As is the case with most viruses, there is no genital warts treatment that will completely get rid of the lesions or the hpv. The warts can be controlled, but the viral infection cannot be not cured. Prescription medications and topical creams are the most frequently used methods of treatment.
Small warts can be removed by means of laser surgery, cryosurgery (freezing), or electrocautery (burning). Application of various acids and resins may also be used. These genital wart treatments require several sessions and removal is not a permanent solution since it cannot prevent spreading of the human papilloma virus. It genital warts are removed by any of these methods more lesions can still occur in the future.
Complications
The main complications of HPV infection are the development of cancerous lesions. Some forms of HPV can cause anal and/or penis cancer in men, and cervical cancer in women.
Prevention
Research is currently being conducted on vaccines that may protect against infection of HPV infection and one vaccine (Gardisil) is now available for women. This vaccine protects against some of the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer but cannot treat genital warts or cervical cancer once they have developed.
The only sure way to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, genital warts included, is to avoid direct contact with the causative organism, in this case the human papilloma virus.
For most STDs the use of a condom creates the barrier necessary to prevent the transmission of the pathogen. However, this appears not to be the case for genital warts as the virus can infect areas not covered by the condom. The Center for Disease Control advises that the only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all sexual activity. Restricting sexual activity to a monogamous relationship with a person confirmed to be "HPV free" would be advisable.
Beverly Hansen OMalley is a nurse who is passionate about health promotion. Visit www.registered-nurse-canada.com where Bev explores the uniqueness of the nursing profession in Canada including comparison of nurse salary across the country, preparation for the Canadian nursing entrance test and how to become a nurse in Canada if you graduated in another country.
