Genital warts are small growths found on the genitalia. They can cause pain, discomfort, and itching.
Genital warts a sexually transmitted infection (STI), caused by some low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains. These are distinct from those high-risk strains which can lead to cervical dysplasia and cancer.
HPV is the most common of all STIs. Sexually active men and women are vulnerable to HPV problems including genital warts. The HPV infection is extremely dangerous for women, as certain forms of HPV can also cause cervix and vulva cancer.
The transmission of genital warts is through sexual activity, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex. You may not start developing warts after infection for several weeks or months.
For the human eye, genital warts are not always noticeable. These can be very tiny and fair color, or even darker. The surface of the growths may look like cauliflower and may feel smooth or bumpy to the touch. They can be a swarm of warts or just one wart.
Genital warts may also occur on a person's lips, mouth, tongue or throat who has had oral sexual contact with an HPV-positive adult.
Even if genital warts are not noticeable, they can still cause symptoms, such as:
The majority of cases of genital warts are due to HPV. There are 30 to 40 strains of HPV that affect the genitals directly, but only a few of those strains cause genital warts.
The HPV virus is easily transmittable by contact with the skin to the bloodstream, which is why it is called an STI.
HPV is so common that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source says that most sexually active people get it at some point.
The infection, though, doesn't always lead to complications or genital warts. In reality, the virus usually goes away alone without causing any health problems.
Generally, genital warts are caused by HPV strains which vary from the strains that cause warts on your hands or other parts of the body. A wart can not reach out to the vagina from someone's side, and vice versa.
Inoculation (Vaccines) can protect against many genital-warts-causing strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts can be treated with prescription medication applied directly to the warts area or can be surgically removed.