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Useful Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
American Academy of Dermatology
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
What are Genital Warts?
Genital warts, which are also known as “venereal warts”, are a highly contagious disease that is transmitted sexually. The disease is caused by various forms of human papillomavirus (HPV). 90 percent of all cases of genital warts are caused by types 6 and 11 of HPV. Most of the people who get these two strains never develop any symptoms and visible warts. HPV may also cause cervical cancer. Around 70 percent of cervical cancer cases result from types 16 and 18. The strains, however, of HPV that bring about genital warts are not related to the ones that cause cervical cancer.
Genital warts are small cauliflower-
HPV is able to penetrate a person’s mucosal surfaces and skin through the small abrasions in the genital region during sexual intercourse. Once the cells are attacked by HPV, there may be a latency or rest period of a few months to several years. This means that the HPV is just undergoing an incubation phase. It doesn’t mean that having sex with a person whose HPV is in incubation saves you from becoming infected. In fact, the HPV virus can persist from 3 to 24 months without showing any symptom. This makes it difficult to track down the source of the disease and also increases the number of HPV carriers.
Genital warts can easily be diagnosed by medical practitioners through direct visual examination. This involves a thorough observation of the thighs and the pelvic region, as well as the mouth and throat areas. But because genital warts are similar to other skin conditions in appearance, there may be some cases of misdiagnosis.
Hirsuties papillaris genitalis, which is also known as “pearly penile papules (PPP)”,
is commonly confused for genital warts in males. It is, however, not contagious.
Treatment is also not necessary, though some may opt for methods to get rid of it
because it is unsightly and slight uncomfortable. Molluscum contagiosum (MC), which
is a viral skin infection that appears as small dome-
In adults, MC is often transmitted through intercourse and develops on the lower
abdomen, inner thighs, genital area, and buttocks. Genital warts should also not
be mixed up with Fordyce’s spots, which are tiny, painless, pale lumps on the labia
or penis shaft. These spots are merely of cosmetic concern and are non-