Genital Warts is a type of sexually transmitted disease (STD) which occur due to infection by a virus – the Human Papilloma Virus.
Also called condyloma acuminata or venereal warts, genital warts are soft, flesh colored bumps or growths that occur mainly in the genital regions - the vagina, cervix and urethra in females and the penis and scrotum in males.
They can also occur in the mouth after oral sex or in the rectum and anus after anal sex.
About two-thirds of all persons who have sex with an infected person will have warts after 3 months of sexual contact.
It is estimated that about 20 million people are infected with the HPV virus in the USA.
Signs and Symptoms of HPV Infection
- No Symptoms: About one third of all infected people will show no symptoms at any time. Others may remain without symptoms for long durations with symptoms showing up from time to time.
- Genital Warts: Genital Warts start as pinkish or flesh coloured small bumps in the genital, oral or anal region. They may occur singly or in groups. Left untreated, they grow larger until they form clusters of finely branched structures with a narrow stalk hanging from the vulva, inside and outside the vagina or around the anus.
Sometimes the warts may be coarse and broad-based - small cauliflower-like growths around the genital organs. Occasionally,the warts may be flat, or very slightly raised above the skin surface. When they grow inside the vagina, they may blend with the mucus membrane and may be very difficult to identify without special techniques.
- Other Symptoms
Other symptoms of HPV infection that may be present are:
- Vaginal Itching.
- Increased mucoid Vaginal discharge.
- Bleeding after sexual intercourse.
Diagnosis of HPV Infection (Genital Warts)
- Visual inspection: Genital warts are diagnosed by visual inspection. The flat moist flesh colored growths are easily identifiable.
- Special Examination: Genital warts that are inside the vagina may be flat and not easily identified by direct vision. Vinegar (acetic acid) has to be applied inside the vagina which turns the affected part (warts) of the mucosa white.
- Biopsy: Sometimes a biopsy of the whitish tissue may be taken to be examined under the microscope and checked for changes in the cells.
- Genetic tests: The HPV DNA can be identified inside cervical and vaginal cells in infected women. This is a definitive test for HPV infection.
- Pap Smear: A Pap Smear checks for changes in cervical cells (cervical dysplasia) that may lead to cervical cancer. Since more than 90% of all women with cervical dysplasia are infected by HPV, it has often been reasoned that all women with cervical dysplasia needs to be evaluated for HPV infection.
- HPV tests for men: Currently, no specific HPV tests are available for men. But HPV DNA sampling can be done in scrapings of cells taken from the tip of the penis.
Treatment of HPV Infection
Unfortunately, there are no permanent cure of HPV infection. Once infected, the virus remains in the man or woman for life. But genital warts can be treated and removed. Occasionally though, warts tend to recur.
Treatment of Genital Warts
Genital warts can be treated by application of medicines or by surgery.
- Medical treatment: Various medicines are available that can cause the warts to shrivel and drop off. Some of them are:
- Podophyllin or Podofilox solution.
- Imidoquimod cream
- Trichloroacetic Acid
- 5-fluorouracil cream.
- Surgical treatment:
Warts that resist medical treatment are best removed by surgical methods:
- Cryosurgery (freezing)
- Electrocautery or thermocautery (burning)
- Laser therapy
Complication of HPV infection
The biggest and most well known complication of HPV infection is the development of cervical cancer. It has been seen that more than 90% of women with cervical dysplasia also are infected with the HPV virus.
Other complications that can occur are infection of the baby in pregnant woman and the development of warts in the baby's throat. Warts in the vagina can also cause difficulty in normal delivery.
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