Genital Warts |
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Approximately
40 million Americans are infected with
genital warts. Genital warts, also known
as condylomata acuminata or venereal
warts, are one of the most common and
infectious sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs). These warts are typically found
on the moist tissues of the genital
area and they are frightful in appearance.
They can affect anyone at any age. In
the case of men, the genital warts appear
on the tip or shaft of the penis, the
scrotum, or the anus. In the case of
women the warts are found in the inner
layer of the vagina which makes them
difficult to detect. Genital warts can
develop on the vulva, the walls of the
vagina, the area between the external
genitals and the anus, and the cervix.
Causes and Risk Factors
Genital warts
are caused by Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV) that infects the top layers of
the skin. This virus has also been associated
with cervical cancer and other types
of genital cancers, such as penile cancer.
Only a few strains of HPV can cause
genital warts. These strains are highly
infectious and are spread by having
sexual contact, vaginal or anal, with
an infected individual. Most of the
people who have sexual contact with
an infected person develop this condition
within three months of contact. In some
cases the development may not occur
for a few years. Unprotected sexual
intercourse with several partners can
increase the risk of developing this
disease.
The risk
of an individual developing or contracting
genital warts is greater if he or she
is already suffering from another sexually
transmitted disease, has unprotected
sexual intercourse with someone whose
sexual history he or she does not know,
becomes sexually active at a young age,
uses birth control pills, uses non-sterile
contraceptives, has multiple sexual
partners, or smokes. In some rare circumstances,
adults and children may become indirectly
infected through incidents like using
an infected towel. If a woman is pregnant
and is suffering from genital warts,
the infection can pass on to the baby
at the time of delivery.
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