Anal Warts and Hemorrhoids?

It's pretty bad when you find out you've got hemorrhoids, but it can be a lot worse if you get hemorrhoids confused with another health issue. I mean, the pain, anxiety and embarrassment of discovering something wrong in the anal area is bad enough, much less not knowing exactly what you've got. On the bright side, there aren't too many health conditions that can come up in that area. One of the most common health conditions confused with hemorrhoids is anal warts.  While neither is very much fun, they stem from entirely different causes and are treated in very different ways.

Anal warts, also known as condyloma acuminata, are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).  This virus is highly contagious and most often transmitted through sexual intercourse.  Some strains of HPV can lead to increased risk of cervical cancer, but these are not the same strains as the ones that cause anal warts.  The virus gets into the skin or mucous tissue cells and starts making them grow in the distinctive wart pattern.  HPV infection does not lead to hemorrhoids.  Hemorrhoids originate from weak points in hemorrhoidal veins below the skin or mucous tissue.  As the weak point gives way, it stretches out and takes surrounding tissue with it. Traumatized hemorrhoids may get infected with a variety of bacteria and/or viruses, but infection does not lead to hemorrhoids.  That would be like putting the cart before the horse.

Anal warts and hemorrhoids can both feel like lumps or masses of tissue around the anal area.  However, there are several differences that can lead to a proper identification upon close inspection.  While doing a close inspection may not sound like fun, it's much better than trying unsuccessfully to treat the wrong thing.  Upon said close inspection, anal warts have a distinctive "rough" texture and range in size from the head of a pin to about the size of a pea and are rather hard to the touch. They occur in clusters around the anal opening and may sometimes continue up towards the genital area.  They almost never occur alone.  Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, have a smooth texture that's identical to the tissue they originate from, whether that's external skin or internal mucous membrane.  They are often soft or "squishy" to the touch, and they range in size from the size of a pea to the size of a grape.  You'll never find them anywhere except right around the anal opening.  In addition, warts almost never hurt, though they may itch a bit.  External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, often hurt quite a lot.

Hemorrhoids are usually best treated at home through a high-fiber diet, a healthy amount of exercise, and easily obtained over the counter relief.  Home remedies often work well on hemorrhoids and surgery is only rarely needed.  Anal warts, on the other hand, always have to be treated surgically, usually on an outpatient basis.  The warts will not go away on their own.  Instead, a physician has to use liquid nitrogen to freeze them off.  In addition, hemorrhoids can often be kept away by keeping the lifestyle changes that were made to help cure them.  Anal warts will often come back for no reason under your control, because the virus can live dormant in your skin cells for a long time.  One day that virus can wake up and bam, you've got anal warts again.

So, as you can see, getting anal warts confused with hemorrhoids can lead to some serious problems. At the least you'll be stuck trying to treat a problem you don't have for a while.  Why waste all that time and discomfort?  If you can't figure out what you've got on your own, make a doctor's appointment and get your diagnosis confirmed.  It'll save you a lot of trouble, pain and grief in the long run.

To find out more about anal warts and hemorrhoids check out our hemorrhoids articles and hemorrhoid treatments.

Copyright 2010.  Written by Donald Urquhart.  All universal rights reserved.

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What are your chances of catching HPV?

If you are sexually active, you’re probably going to catch some strain of HPV.

It is estimated that somewhere around half of all sexually active people are actually walking around with genital HPV right now, while most people will contract HPV at some point in their lives.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s usually not that big of a deal.

HPV isn’t just genital HPV, and even when it is genital HPV, it’s only the rarer forms of HPV which can lead to cancer, and those strains do not show themselves in the form of genital warts.

HPV includes common warts (hand warts), plantar warts, elbow warts, flat warts, and even some strains that don’t even cause any visible signs or lead to further health complications.

Most children will contract hand warts at some point in their early lives. Hand warts are uncomfortable and ugly, but they won’t lead to cancer, they’re easily treated, and 90% of the time, they clear up in a few weeks with or without treatment.

While they may cause unsightly and uncomfortable warts, most forms of HPV are relatively benign, and do not pose any serious health risks. The problem is that there are strains of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer, and that these strains usually cannot be spotted without a pap smear.

Tens of thousands of women die every year thanks to genital HPV leading to cervical cancer. The vast majority of people who contract HPV may wind up okay. Again, HPV only rarely leads to cancer. However, the risk is very real. You’re more likely to catch a cancer-causing strain of HPV than you are to get struck by lightning, so if you don’t stand under trees during a storm, don’t have sex without either using protection, or having STD tests done for both partners.

Luckily, there is an HPV vaccine available that can help prevent contracting cancer causing strains of the virus. The vaccine has been shown to be most effective when administered around the age of puberty, and is definitely worth looking into for either yourself, or any young women in your family. Yes, that may seem like an awkward subject to bring up, but let’s forget about that for a minute and face the facts: Some forty thousand women die of HPV related cancer every year. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand.

So to sum all of the above up into a list of “just the HPV facts”…

You have a very strong chance of contracting HPV in your lifetime. Your odds for catching a life threatening strain of HPV are slim, but the possibility is very real, nonetheless. Contracting HPV can only be prevented by the vaccine, using condoms, and/or having STD tests conducted on yourself and your sex partner.

The chance of catching HPV is very real, but you can significantly reduce the risk by practicing safe sex. You can strengthen your immune system against HPV and genital warts infections by eating properly and exercising. Basically, just be careful, live a healthy lifestyle, and you should be relatively safe.

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV.  We are dedicated to helping you.  For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV.

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About the Author: Author: Michelle Anderson

Female Genital Warts Treatment- What You Need to Know

Warts on your genital are very embarrassing and frustrating because the consequences are not only physical but also emotional. Your personal relationship especially your sexual life is at stake and you need to seek the right female genital warts treatment that will work for you.

Genital warts are transmitted through sexual contact and oral sex. It is caused by HPV or human papillomavirus which is highly contagious and there are reports that around 65% of sexually active women get genital warts within three months after they had sexual contact with an infected partner. There are many types of HPV and some types are responsible for genital warts in women. It is important that you know the right female genital warts treatment that will work for you and get rid of the problem for good.

The vagina, vulva, perineum, anus and cervix are all affected if you have female genital warts. Aside from the appearance of warts or cauliflower-like skin growth around your anus and vaginal area, the symptoms include itching or burning sensation in the genital area and painful sexual intercourse. You may also encounter bleeding during or after sexual intercourse. HPV will not cause any fertility issue but having warts during pregnancy is very uncomfortable and risky because it is not recommended for pregnant women to take drugs or undergo any medical procedures as female genital warts treatment.

Of course the first thing that you should do is abstain from sex until you are treated. Here are the common female genital treatments that could work for you:

Medications. It is recommended that you seek professional or medical advice to get immediate female genital warts treatment. Genital warts can be treated with a number of medicines and creams prescribed by your doctor. Always be sure to see a medical practitioner and follow the instructions in using or applying the medicines or creams to avoid skin irritation.

Medical and surgical procedures. If medications failed to get rid of your warts, there are advanced medical or surgical procedures as female genital warts treatment. Some of these treatments are laser surgery which of course uses laser beam to remove warts, cryotherapy which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and remove warts, electrocautery which uses electricity to burn and remove warts and surgical removal which is a minor surgery under local anesthetic to remove warts.

Natural remedies. This is an alternative female genital warts treatment that some people find effective and inexpensive. In ancient times, natural remedies are popular in treating many diseases and they are still around and proven effective for treating some diseases including genital warts.

Did you know that there is a natural female genital warts treatment that you can do at the comfort of your own home?  Get rid of stubborn warts for good in just 3 days visit Mole, Wart and Skin Tag Free in 3 days

To know more about health and beauty visit Great Discovery-Health and Beauty

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including Female Genital Warts Treatment- What You Need to Know. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

 

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How to Prevent Genital Warts Outbreak

Warts are stubborn skin growth that could annoy you for years. It has the tendency to come back and they are also contagious. It can spread from one part of the body to other parts like the genitals and it can also spread from one person to another. This skin growth is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and the virus lies dormant in the body and just waiting for the right trigger to flare up.  Millions of people are affected by HPV and around 50% sexually active people are infected by the virus at some point in their lives. So it is important to know how to prevent genital warts outbreak.

Genital warts outbreak may appear as skin growth or bumps in clusters. They are sometimes flat and sometimes raised skin growth that appears around the vagina, on the penis and anus. They may go away after sometime but they have the tendency to comeback. If left untreated, you may suffer from frequent genital outbreak because the virus is still there waiting for the right trigger for another outbreak.

It is recommended to seek medical advice once you suspected that you are infected by the virus for you to know how to deal with genital warts outbreak.

Here are some ways to prevent HPV and genital warts outbreak:

Vaccine for HPV that causes cervical cancer and genital warts outbreak for women is now available. This is recommended for girls from 11 years old or before they become sexually active. Those sexually active women can still benefit from this vaccine to prevent them from getting other types of HPV.

Stay in monogamous relationship. Sexually active people who have different partners are highly at risk to get the virus. To prevent genital warts outbreak, be monogamous as much as possible. Staying with a faithful partner who is not yet infected by the virus is safer.

Boost your immune system. People with weak immune system are more likely to catch the virus because they have weak anti-bodies to fight the virus. If you are healthy and strong, occurrence of genital warts is less frequent or it may not occur again.

Practice safe sex. Use protection like condoms but you have to know that condoms provide limited protection and the virus can be transmitted through intercourse or oral sex. As much as possible do not engage in sexual contact with a person with visible genital warts outbreak. If you are the one infected by warts, abstain from sexual contact until the warts or infection is cured.

Genital warts outbreak is a very annoying and embarrassing disease. If you are suffering from recurring genital warts outbreak and you have tried almost everything but still unsuccessful, natural remedies is another option. Did you know that you can get rid of warts naturally for good in just 3 days? To find out more visit  Mole, Wart and Skin Tag Free in 3 days

To know more about health and beauty remedies visit Great Discovery-Health and Beauty

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including How to Prevent Genital Warts Outbreak. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

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Update On Genital Warts

Genital warts (also known as ano-genital warts, Condyloma, Condylomata acuminate, or venereal warts) are highly contagious. They are transmitted during sexual intercourse and caused by some strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) affecting both men and women. Genital warts do not appear until two to four weeks after contact and sometimes months may elapse before the warts become visible. They are usually painless but may itch or produce a burning sensation. Genital warts are not life-threatening, but they can have an emotional effect, causing people to feel uncomfortable in existing or new relationships.

They often occur in clusters appearing as soft, moist, pink, or flesh-coloured swellings that can spread into large masses in the genital area. They can be flat. In the early stage of development, they are not visible so that at this time transmission may occur without a partner being aware of the potential for transmission. Genital warts can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex.

Genital warts are the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection seen at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the UK. It is estimated that as many as 6 million new cases of genital warts are diagnosed in the United States each year. The condition is becoming more prevalent.

They can occur at any age but the prevalence peaks at 20-24 years. If a toddler has genital warts, sexual abuse should be considered although one must bear in mind that the virus could have been acquired during childbirth.

Until the 19th century, genital warts were believed to be a form of syphilis or gonorrhoea but we now know that certain strains of HPV prove to be the culprits. Genital warts are highly contagious. You have a 60% chance of getting the infection with a single sexual contact. Other common types of HPV that cause warts on the hands and the soles of the feet do not cause genital warts. Rarely, the virus is transmitted from a mother to her baby during childbirth (vertical transmission). It is a popular myth that you can catch genital warts from a towel, doorknob, a toilet seat or the swimming pool. They can be caused by strains 6, 11, 30, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52 and 54 of HPV; types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90% of genital warts cases. HPV types that tend to cause genital warts are not the same ones as those that cause cervical cancer (types 16 and 18). Genital warts are not usually passed on from warts affecting other parts of the body.

Genital warts are transmitted primarily by sexual intimacy, and the probability of infection increases in relation to the number of sexual partners. Smoking, oral contraceptives, multiple sex partners, and early coital age are risk factors for acquiring genital warts. Growth may be more rapid during pregnancy or when a person's immune system is weakened by diabetes, HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, Hodgkin's disease or taking anti-rejection drugs following an organ transplant. Smokers are more likely to develop genital warts than non-smokers.

Genital warts per se do not cause any serious long-term health problems. They are associated with cervical carcinoma as a woman can acquire multiple strains of HPV. Medical providers consider any case of genital warts to be a warning of potentially pre-malignant and malignant conditions. Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease and may, therefore, be accompanied by other sexually transmitted diseases.

No single treatment regimen for genital warts is better than another and no one treatment regimen is ideal for all cases. Two or more professional treatments are often required. Do not use over the counter cures for warts around the genitalia as severe irritation can occur. Genital warts can be treated by swabbing with the cell poison called podophyllotoxin. Pregnancy should be excluded before treatment commences. The area should be washed and dried before application. Warticon is applied at home twice daily for three days each week for four weeks. The skin should be washed one to four hours after application to reduce local irritation. Cryotherapy (freeze treatment), diathermy (heat) and laser are effective. Once an individual has been infected, the virus will be carried for life, even when the warts have been completely eradicated.

Most pregnant women, who have previously had genital warts, would be unlikely to have any complications or problems during pregnancy or childbirth. Unlike herpes, transmission of HPV to the baby occurs very rarely during childbirth so that genital warts are not an indication for caesarean-section unless they are so extensive that they restrict the birth canal. Some of the medications used to treat genital warts cannot be used during pregnancy, so it is important to tell your doctor if you could be pregnant.

If you have signs of genital warts, you should avoid sexual activity until the warts have been successfully treated. Condoms offer some protection against the virus, but they cannot completely prevent infection because the warts can be outside of the area protected by the condom. Spermicidal foams, creams, and jellies have not been proven to be protective. Women and men with more than one sexual partner, or if their partner has had more than one partner, should have regular examinations for sexually transmitted diseases, including genital warts. As with other sexually transmitted diseases, your partner must be treated as well, since an infected partner could easily transfer the virus back to you. Anyone with whom you've had sex should also be checked for genital warts.

The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, provides immunisation against the two strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, and two strains of HPV that cause 90% of genital warts.

David Viniker MD FRCOG is a Consultant in OB/GYN.  Visit his websites which explain the pros and cons of the various options for women’s health, pregnancy and childbirth: www.2womenshealth.com    www.obstetric-health.com    

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HPV Symptoms - What to Look For

HPV infections are frequently unnoticeable because they don't give signs of warts or other lesions. Although you don’t show HPV symptoms, they may become visible later and you may infect others.

It doesn’t matter whether you have HPV symptoms or not, it will all be based on the type of HPV virus involved in the infection. There is a large number of different kinds or types of HPV, which are generally referred to as HPV "strains", and some of them are related to genital warts, yet often genital warts won't appear.

Genital warts - these are benign warts and appear as a small cauliflower-like bump, a flat lesion. In women, these warts can be seen usually on the vulva but may also appear close to the anus, in the vagina or on the cervix. While in men, these appear on the penis and scrotum or around the anus.

Common warts - these are benign skin growths that typically appear on your fingers or on your fingernails, hands and emerge as uneven, elevated bumps. They are commonly irritating because of their appearance, however they may also be painful or prone to injury or bleeding.

Plantar warts - these are solid, rough, non-malignant growths that usually appear on the heel or ball of your feet, areas where most pressure can be felt. These warts may cause pain or discomfort.

These are just some of the HPV symptoms that you should look for so you can seek proper treatment.  If you feel some soreness and have warts of any kind that cause discomfort, you should seek your doctor’s advice. For women, it is suggested to have regular Pap tests; this is one of the best ways to discover an HPV infection that could lead to cervical cancer.

Understanding the HPV symptoms is so significant to achieve proper management and healthcare support. These symptoms may be malignant or non-malignant types of infections. Just take necessary preventative measures so you can stop the risk of having cancer. This may be hard to open up with friends or loved ones but since this is such an intimidating health condition, with no symptoms and you can clear it out with no treatment and no other health problems that might occur, still you should be careful because studies show that the longer you have the HPV virus, the more you are prone to anal or cervical cancer, so prevention is of the highest importance but treatment should be used once HPV syptoms are apparent.

Andrea Segovia inspires people seeking natural health solutions by providing tips on treatment methods that work naturally with the body. She contributes to the work stream in topics ranging from health, travel, and natural living. She is passionately involved with sharing her discoveries on HPV

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HPV Symptoms. So have I got it?

There are over 100 strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and thirty of these can lead to other such problems if some has contracted it such as cervical cancer and genital warts.  Each year, more and more people are contracting a form of this virus and it is becoming a growing concern the world over.  However, not all cases of HPV have symptoms associated to them and in fact the HPV symptoms only will surface if another problem is present.

With respect to the HPV symptoms especially those associated with genital warts can vary.  However, if you find your self suffering from irritation caused by bumps or lesions in the genital area, then it is quite possible that you have genital warts.  However, it is best if you contact and arrange an appointment with your doctor or gynecologist so that they give the correct diagnosis.

However once it has been confirmed that you have in fact contracted genital warts it is time to consider what treatment options are available to you.  The best way of treating any form of genital warts is actually dependent on the patients attitude.  They can either be frozen, treated with chemicals, burnt off or surgically removed, but the choice is solely up to the patient and what they would feel most comfortable having performed on them.  Any person who contracts genital warts should also remember that they may have had them removed, they can lie dormant within their bodies and resurface at any time, but this does not always happen, in fact in some cases they have never returned.

The HPV symptoms which will surface if some is diagnosed with either cervical (the presence of abnormal cells) or any other form of cancer relating to the reproductive organs in the body will include vaginal bleeding, smelly discharge and a feeling of discomfort during sexual intercourse.   If you experience any of these symptoms then arrange to visit your doctor as soon as possible. 

However, one of the best ways of preventing a person contracting HPV is to be in a monogamous relationship, or if not then use condoms at all times.  Arrange regular pap (smear) tests.  But unfortunately for you men there is no way of screening you to see if you have got HPV.

There are over 100 strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and thirty of these can lead to other such problems if some has contracted it such as cervical cancer and genital warts.  Each year, more and more people are contracting a form of this virus and it is becoming a growing concern the world over.  However, not all cases of HPV have symptoms associated to them and in fact the HPV symptoms only will surface if another problem is present.

With respect to the HPV symptoms especially those associated with genital warts can vary.  However, if you find your self suffering from irritation caused by bumps or lesions in the genital area, then it is quite possible that you have genital warts.  However, it is best if you contact and arrange an appointment with your doctor or gynecologist so that they give the correct diagnosis.

However once it has been confirmed that you have in fact contracted genital warts it is time to consider what treatment options are available to you.  The best way of treating any form of genital warts is actually dependent on the patients attitude.  They can either be frozen, treated with chemicals, burnt off or surgically removed, but the choice is solely up to the patient and what they would feel most comfortable having performed on them.  Any person who contracts genital warts should also remember that they may have had them removed, they can lie dormant within their bodies and resurface at any time, but this does not always happen, in fact in so

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Does the HPV vaccine work

The HPV vaccine does not treat existing cases of HPV. It also does not prevent all types of strains of the HPV virus. It protects only certain types of HPV and not the most severe ones.

Is the HPV vaccination shot safe?

(source: ProLifeBlogs.com) According to Judicial Watch that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, between March and May of 2007 up to 3 cases of deaths had been reported due to the HPV vaccine.  Also reported were 1,637 adverse vaccination reactions reported to the FDA via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System included 371 serious reactions. Of the 42 women who received the vaccine while pregnant, 18 experienced side effects ranging from spontaneous abortion to fetal abnormities.

Who can get the HPV vaccine?

The FDA has approved: It is best to get the shot before you start being sexually active. It is NOT recommended for women over age 26.

How many shots will I need?

3 shots, One shot first, then 2 month later the Second shot and the third shot 6 months after the first shot.

How long Am I am going to be protected?

The vaccine is NEW, so there are a lot more studies to be done. There is no way for you to know at the time.

Can I get Vaccine if I have HPV?

The Vaccine will not Cure HPV . It might protect you from others types of HPV.

Note: You might have heard there are other ways of preventing it HPV or making it disappear  like by having the LEEP surgery or vaccination, Of course that involves side effects which might cause you to have a miscarriage or might not cure your HPV, which could then lead to Cervical cancer. After being an (ex) severe victim of HPV who continues to test clear of the virus my own opinion is that initial testing and results of the shot are much too dangerous for me to advise it. I almost got cervical cancer and today I am HPV free thanks to the Natural Way of treating it with no surgical procedures or pain wasoever.

Copyright 2009 http://naturalhpvcure.com

Andrea Segovia is an advocate for natural treatment of diseases and offers more information on the topic of hpv symptoms and treatments

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Nutrition to reduce risk of HPV

There is no magic diet, no special fruit or vegetable that will make you impervious to HPV. There’s no way to reduce risk of contracting HPV by 100%, as even the HPV vaccine only protects against the high risk forms that can lead to cancer and so on. That said, you can make some simple changes to your diet to improve your immune system, so as to greatly reduce your risk of contracting HPV, and, should you contract HPV, your immune system will be able to rid your body of the infection that much more quickly.

In fact, let’s forget about HPV for a minute and just consider this: If you eat healthy, you will feel better.

A lot of health food people get it wrong. Eating better isn’t about living longer, it’s not about avoiding foods that will “kill you” (no food can really kill you unless you’re suffering from serious obesity or blood pressure and cholesterol problems) it’s about making the years you have available to you more enjoyable. If you eat well, you will be in a better mood, as nutrition plays a vital part in maintaining mental health. If you eat well, you’ll be stronger, faster, less tired, you’ll feel more comfortable and look better in your own body, your skin will look and feel better, your bones will be stronger, you’ll get sick less often, and you will be happier. You will live longer, as well, but the real point is that, in the here and now, you can improve your quality of life by leaps and bounds by making a few simple dietary changes.

Fruits and vegetables

Here’s the basic rule of fruits and vegetables: There’s almost no such thing as too much.

You may have heard of the supposed “superfruits” which have become pretty trendy these days, but honestly, most of them aren’t much stronger than your average orange or apple. However, if an exotic flavour is enough to get you eating more fruits, go for it.

Look for fruits especially high in vitamin C, most obviously, the orange.

As for vegetables, try just switching sugary, salty snacks out with salads. Play around with different combinations and lighter dressings until you have something you like. Salads mainly provide fiber, which can help to keep your system clean and flush out excess waste. This can be enormously helpful in improving your immune system and preventing colon cancer.

Water

It sounds like a lot, but try to drink about a gallon a day. Water doesn’t contain vitamins or anything, but it works as a sort of lubrication for your body and basically improves all facets of your biological functions.

Protein

You do need protein to keep your immune system and your skin strong to help fight off HPV infection. Try to avoid red meat, though. Something to keep in mind, pork is actually one of the safest, healthiest meats available. It gets a bad name, and certainly, bacon is probably the worst food you can eat, but it digests more easily than beef and is less greasy. If you can get more protein from beans or fish, that’s even better.

Exercise

Nutrition only goes so far. You can have a perfect diet, but if you don’t keep yourself active, your immune system won’t be strong enough to deal with an HPV infection quickly and effectively. Stay fit. If you can make time for some daily situps and pushups, great. If not, at the very least you should take a walk every day.

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV.  We are dedicated to helping you.  For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV.

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How to avoid passing HPV on

Count yourself lucky for having been born in such extraordinary times. We still haven’t found a way to cure every single disease, and there is no cure for HPV, however, the rate of progress is improving dramatically, and with modern science, we’re discovering more and more ways to, if not kill HPV off for good, we can at least take steps to prevent contracting HPV, and to prevent passing it on.

There is a bit of a misconception that HPV is an entirely sexually related disease. Just to get this clear: It is not. HPV includes genital warts, but there are literally dozens of different types of HPV. To put it simply, all warts are caused by HPV, and there are some forms of HPV that don’t actually show any visible signs on the surface of the skin.

Most forms of HPV are merely uncomfortable or unsightly, warts are a form of tumour, but they are generally benign tumours, meaning, ugly as they are, they’re of no risk to your life or long term health. However, a few types can lead to cancer or other major complications.

If you’ve spotted an unsightly wart on your hands or feet, or your doctor has informed you that you have been infected with HPV, you’ll need to take measures to treat the hpv symptoms, of course, but you should also take measures to prevent passing it on.

Common warts or hand warts

Because of the protein “shell” surrounding an HPV cell, HPV can lay dormant for longer than most viruses even on non-absorbent, dry surfaces. If you’re dealing with hand warts, just make sure to spray down surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs with disinfectant and keep a generally sanitary environment at work and at home.

Luckily, most common wart hpv treatment options will have you putting a band-aid or other medical adhesive over the infected area, so as long as you wash your hands and reapply the bandages as needed, there’s not too much risk in passing on common hand warts.

Plantar warts

Unless you’re swapping socks with your friends, plantar warts are kind of hard to pass on in your normal routine.

If you go to a gym or health club and use communal showers, just make sure to wear rubber shower sandals. This is generally recommended whether you’re dealing with plantar warts or not, as you can keep from contracting HPV and foot funguses, as well.

Venereal HPV

There’s a misconception that if you don’t see any warts, you can’t pass HPV on. This is not true though. Not only can you pass venereal types of HPV on when there are no symptoms, there are also venereal HPV types which have no visible symptoms, but can lead to cervical cancer and other complications nonetheless.

In this day and age, you have to be living under a rock to not have heard about the many, many options for safe sex out there. The only form of safe sex that has much potential to prevent HPV, though, is using a condom. There is no cure for genital warts or HPV in men or women.

Know the sexual history of every sexual partner you become involved with, no exceptions. Unless you and your partner have both had HPV tests conducted and you know for a fact that you are both clear, use a condom every time. Condoms take only a few seconds to apply, and it just isn’t worth the risk to go without.

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV.  We are dedicated to helping you.  For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV.

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The HPV Test - Do You Have It?

Since HPV viruses often show no symptoms, there is no specific test to check the overall status of HPV within the body's cells. Tests are used only for cervical cancer screening and we all know that HPV virus can be cleared out, on its own, with no other health problems. Thus, there is no need to be tested just to check out if you have HPV. However, you should get tested for signs of disease that HPV can bring, such as cervical cancer for women and anal cancer for men.

Visual inspection can be done if you would like to find out if you have genital warts. Some healthcare providers may use a vinegar solution, acetic acid, to help see flat warts. However, this is not an accurate or completely sensitive test, so it may erroneously identify normal skin as a wart.

Routine Pap tests are used to identify if patient has cervical cancer or not. The HPV test can identify high-risk HPV types on a woman’s cervix, which can be resulted to cervical cell alterations and cancer.

As a matter of fact, there is no medically approved treatment for the virus itself, but a healthy immune system can usually ward off HPV naturally. Visible genital warts can be removed by patient-applied medications, or by proper management performed by a health care giver. Some individuals prefer to give up treatment to see if the warts will fade naturally.

Cervical cancer is most manageable when it has been detected and treated early. There are innovative forms of medical procedures such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy which are available for patients although many of these are not guaranteed so HPV victims should consider natural alternatives for holistic HPV treatment.

If you belong to the men’s group and wonder if there’s any test to screen HPV-related cancer, screening tests can discover early signs of disease in people who are still healthy.

Some health specialists recommend annual anal Pap tests for bisexual, gay, and HIV-positive men, because anal cancer is more common in these groups. This HPV test can find abnormal cells in the anus that could develop into cancer eventually. If abnormal cells are found, they can be eliminated. Anal Pap tests are not recommended because there is no substantial research to show that removing abnormal anal cells can stop the development of anal cancer in the future. More research is needed to be done to confirm that Anal Pap tests and treatment of abnormal cells can help to prevent anal cancer.

Go to your doctor’s clinic if you find blisters, warts, sores, white patches, ulcers, or other abnormal areas on your penis although they don’t hurt. Otherwise, check if there’s any abnormalities on your penis, scrotum, or around the anus through visual inspection. Your body is your own responsibility, so proper care and management is essential to achieve good physical condition.

Andrea Segovia inspires people seeking natural health solutions by providing tips on treatment methods that work naturally with the body. She contributes to the work stream in topics ranging from health, travel, and natural living. She is passionately involved with sharing her discoveries on HPV

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1022537_17.html

Pregnancy And HPV: Will There Be Complications At All?

Pregnancy and HPV can undoubtedly harm the unborn baby. It can positively complicate a pregnancy. That is why it is important to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist if a pregnant woman has HPV.

During pregnancy, it is very significant to know if the woman does have genital warts. If she does, she will have difficulty urinating because the genital warts grow at a fast pace and causes a blockage to the birth canal. If the birth canal is blocked, the pregnant woman will undergo a caesarian delivery. But a caesarian delivery is more often than not being done if only genital warts are there. Pregnancy and HPV does not really affect the baby but it may cause birth defects. Seldom, a mother can send on the warts and the HPV infection to the child. If this happens, warts in the throat and mouth of the baby can be developed. It is curable but it could be life threatening to the baby.

HPV pregnancy, unfortunately has no available drug that can treat the virus, however natural treatment methods are available. If genital warts are present during pregnancy, the obstetrician may decide not to treat or treat them. Oftentimes, they get better or even fade away altogether after the woman gives birth. Some treatments can be used to eliminate it safely during gestation.

During pregnancy, there may be an increase of tissue changes in some pregnant women. It may result in premature labor which is why the doctor has to cancel the treatment for HPV. The doctor will observe if the warts get bigger because hormonal changes can cause the warts to multiply and at times may cause bleeding. If the warts get bigger and cause obstruction in the birth canal, there might be a need to remove the warts surgically before childbirth.

It is more important that if a woman is planning to get pregnant, she must consult her doctor to be able to know if she has HPV. Natural prevention can eliminate this risk and will be a big help to the mother and the baby to avoid complications during pregnancy.

Andrea Segovia inspires people seeking natural health solutions by providing tips on treatment methods that work naturally with the body. She contributes to the work stream in topics ranging from health, travel, and natural living. She is passionately involved with sharing her discoveries on HPV in Man.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_952378_17.html

HPV Genital Infection - Austin STD Testing Clinic

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI). The virus often attacks the skin and mucous membranes. HPV infects the genital areas of both men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva, and anus, linings of the vagina, cervix and rectum. One may never know who is infected with HPV. It is hard to detect the infection. Those who are already infected with barely know that they have been infected unless they take the STD test. Learn more about Austin STD testing clinics

Most of the time, HPV do not show symptoms. But since it causes genital warts, the symptoms of the warts are the ones noticed. There are health complications that may happen if the infection is not treated such as cervical cancer and other less common cancers, such as cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis.

HPV has two types; the high risk and low risk. The low risk infections are the ones that usually cause genital warts while the high risk ones are the cancer-causing infection.

Genital warts show small bumps that usually appear in the genital area. They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person. Cervical cancer, unless advanced cases, will not show any symptoms. It will only be detected through Pap smear or other reproductive health screenings.

Genital HPV is transmitted through sexual contact, often during vaginal or anal sex. A pregnant woman may pass the infection to her baby at childbirth. The baby may then experience several health complications.

Today, there is a vaccine given to females aging from 11 – 26 to protect them from HPV infection. For those who choose to be sexually active, condoms may lower the risk of HPV, if used all the time and the right way. Condoms may also lower the risk of developing HPV-related diseases, such as genital warts and cervical cancer. However, condoms may not be 100 percent sure of securing one of all STDs around. So the only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all sexual activity. One may also lower their risk of becoming infected by practicing monogamy. Changing or having multiple sex partners can put one at risk to being infected with HPV.

Women may also be protected by having a regular reproductive health screening. This is to detect health abnormalities that may cause cervical cancer.  Another way is to take an STD test. This is to confirm if one is infected with STD or not. One may go to a hospital or local health center for a local STD testing. Or one may visit an STD testing clinic for testing, screening, counseling and treatment. Once a disease is detected, the patient may immediately have a treatment. Some STDs may be cured with antibiotics and completely eliminate the disease from one’s body. Treatment may depend on the disease and its intensity when detected.

Treating STD is not an easy matter to deal with. Often times, patients get too frustrated with their situation. This is where counseling becomes a treatment tool.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1101691_17.html

What are your chances of catching HPV?

If you are sexually active, you’re probably going to catch some strain of HPV.

It is estimated that somewhere around half of all sexually active people are actually walking around with genital HPV right now, while most people will contract HPV at some point in their lives.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s usually not that big of a deal.

HPV isn’t just genital HPV, and even when it is genital HPV, it’s only the rarer forms of HPV which can lead to cancer, and those strains do not show themselves in the form of genital warts.

HPV includes common warts (hand warts), plantar warts, elbow warts, flat warts, and even some strains that don’t even cause any visible signs or lead to further health complications.

Most children will contract hand warts at some point in their early lives. Hand warts are uncomfortable and ugly, but they won’t lead to cancer, they’re easily treated, and 90% of the time, they clear up in a few weeks with or without treatment.

While they may cause unsightly and uncomfortable warts, most forms of HPV are relatively benign, and do not pose any serious health risks. The problem is that there are strains of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer, and that these strains usually cannot be spotted without a pap smear.

Tens of thousands of women die every year thanks to genital HPV leading to cervical cancer. The vast majority of people who contract HPV may wind up okay. Again, HPV only rarely leads to cancer. However, the risk is very real. You’re more likely to catch a cancer-causing strain of HPV than you are to get struck by lightning, so if you don’t stand under trees during a storm, don’t have sex without either using protection, or having STD tests done for both partners.

Luckily, there is an HPV vaccine available that can help prevent contracting cancer causing strains of the virus. The vaccine has been shown to be most effective when administered around the age of puberty, and is definitely worth looking into for either yourself, or any young women in your family. Yes, that may seem like an awkward subject to bring up, but let’s forget about that for a minute and face the facts: Some forty thousand women die of HPV related cancer every year. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand.

So to sum all of the above up into a list of “just the HPV facts”…

You have a very strong chance of contracting HPV in your lifetime. Your odds for catching a life threatening strain of HPV are slim, but the possibility is very real, nonetheless. Contracting HPV can only be prevented by the vaccine, using condoms, and/or having STD tests conducted on yourself and your sex partner.

The chance of catching HPV is very real, but you can significantly reduce the risk by practicing safe sex. You can strengthen your immune system against HPV and genital warts infections by eating properly and exercising. Basically, just be careful, live a healthy lifestyle, and you should be relatively safe.

HPV Health is dedicated to bringing you the most current information on HPV.  We are dedicated to helping you.  For more information on symptoms and treatments visit HPV.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_763820_17.html

Causes of Genital Warts - Useful Information For HPV Prevention

Genital Warts….What are the causes?

There over 100 known strains of the virus that causes genital warts

but only about one third of them are known to attack the genital area. This strain of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is called genital HPV and affects over half of all sexually active males and females. They can be further classified into low and high risk HPV.

The commonest mode of transmission of is sex with an infected person. Over two thirds of people who have sex with a carrier of HPV are likely to get an infection. The infection will be passed across though oral, anal or vaginal sex. Unfortunately, even toddlers can get infected during the birth process. These children pick the virus as they pass through the birth canal and will mostly develop symptoms in the mouth or the throat.

Other likely predisposing factors for getting genital warts are suspected to be the use of birth control and oral contraceptives, causing and indirect risk because it increases the possibility of multiple sexual partners without the risk of conceiving. So does the excessive use of alcohol, smoking as well as stress. When the immune system is weakened by any factor the risks also go higher.

How can they be prevented?

Treatment and removal of the virus that causes genital warts is not possible currently for there is no known cure. The best that medical practitioners will do is to remove the accompanying symptoms. The warts are removed but the underlying cause remains intact in the body. HPV is known to lie dormant in the body for a long time without manifesting any symptoms. A medical examination is the only way to know whether you are infected or not.

Even though HPV is transmitted sexually, it is actually spread through skin to skin contact even when there is no exchange of bodily fluids during the sexual act. That means you can get it through anal and oral sex as well, resulting in the warts appearing in unlikely places like the mouth and the throat. Abstinence remains the top of the range modes of prevention or at least the use of latex condoms during sexual intercourse.

As for women, there is the option of a vaccine against HPV and cervical cancer which can protect from some strains of HPV that could also cause genital warts. It is recommended for women between the ages of 13 and 26 as long as they have not been exposed to the HPV virus. Finally you can try to boost your immune system through taking a balanced diet and a generally healthy lifestyle. A compromised immune system makes you vulnerable not only to HPV but many other health challenges we encounter on day to day basis.

Raj Kumar - About the Author:

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/causes-of-genital-warts-useful-information-for-prevention-970087.html

Genital Warts - The Low and High Risk Factors and Causes

Genital warts are one of the most common forms of sexually transmitted disease. These warts appear as small flesh-colored bumps that are raised and shaped like cauliflowers. Genital warts may start as tiny lesions that are approximately 2 millimeters in diameter. Then, they eventually grow and expand into bigger masses.

In men, genital warts develop on and around the scrotum, anus area, and penis shaft. In women, they are usually found in and out of the vagina, uterus, cervix, and around the anus. For both genders, genital warts may manifest around the throat and mouth areas especially when the individual has previously engaged in sexual intercourse with another infected person.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the virus that is responsible for genital warts. There are a total of 100 strains of HPV. However, only 30 strains can infect our genital region. These 30 strains are what we call genital HPV, which can affect approximately 50 percent of women and men who are sexually active.

Two types of HPV exist: low-risk and high-risk. High-risk HPV may bring about cancer of the vagina, cervix, anus, throat, or penis. This type of HPV is not related to the type that causes genital warts. Type 16 HPV is related to approximately half of all the cases of cervical cancer. Types 45, 31, 18, and 16 all together are related to 80 percent of the cases of cervical cancer.

Low-risk HPV is the one that leads to genital warts. To be specific, approximately 90 percent of the cases of genital warts are caused by types 11 and 6 of HPV. Low-risk HPV is often hard to detect since it does not manifest any symptoms. In fact, a lot of people are carriers of HPV but they are not aware of it. Thus, the risk of transmitting HPV becomes even higher. It would be for your own good if you undergo regular check-ups so that you would know whether or not you have the virus.

The most common method through which genital warts can be transferred from one person to another is through sexual intercourse with an infected person. Experts estimate that approximately 66 percent of those who engage in sex with an infected individual will have genital warts either through oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Childbirth is another way by which genital warts can be transmitted. When the infant passes through a woman's infected birth canal, there is a possibility that he/she can develop warts inside his/her mouth and throat. This is called laryngeal papillomatosis.

The probability of genital warts occurring as well as other HPV-related illnesses are further increased by some risk factors. These risk factors include having many sex partners, becoming sexually active at an early age, having STDs in the past, and engaging in sexual intercourse with an individual even though you are not aware of his/her sexual history. The use of oral contraceptives such as birth control pills may also increase your chances of having genital warts because of decreased protected sexual intercourse.

Smoking, excessive stress, and alcohol consumption may also raise your chances of contracting genital warts. Moreover, a compromised immunity against diseases is a risk factor. Thus, those who have undergone physical trauma through surgery and other invasive procedures as well as those who have had serious diseases such as cervical cancer will most probably have genital warts.

W. Darren - - About the Author:

For more information, kindly visit Genital Warts Support Team - a health resource dedicated to providing factual information about Genital Warts. Visit site for related topics: "Causes of Genital Warts", "Diagnosis of Genital Warts" and more.

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How Are Genital Warts Treated

Genital warts on the skin are usually seen and recognized. Your health care provider may put a liquid on the skin to make it easier to see the wart. More than 75 types of double-stranded HPV papovaviruses have been isolated thus far. Genital wart therapies can be administered by the patient or health provider. Providers can treat with a chemical called podophyllin, surgical removal or, in some cases, warts may be "frozen" and removed by a process called cryosurgery.

Genital warts most often appear on the external genitals or near the anus of females and males. Genital warts can also appear inside the vagina and on the cervix, although this is less common.17 Because genital warts aren't always visible, they can be spread unknowingly.

Be aware of the following before we talk about treatments.

They are one of the most common infections that can be caught from sexual activity (sexually transmitted infections - STIs), and are caused by viruses called human papillomaviruses (HPV). More than 25% of sexually active young people have HPV infections, and more than 80% of sexually active women will have HPV at some stage in their lives.

There are about 40 different types of HPV causing infections in the genital area, and about 25 of them can cause genital warts. HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90 percent of genital warts (the immunisations that are being given to protect women against the HPV that cause cervical cancer also protect women from HPV types 6 and 11).

Treatments such as podophyllin (podofilox) or trichloracetic acid (TCA) are reasonable options. These chemicals are applied to the surface of the wart by a Doctor or nurse.

A new treatment is now on the market. This prescription drug works the same way as podophyllin but can be applied at home by the patient.

There is no single treatment that is best for all patients or all warts. Treatment depends partly on the size, number, and location of the warts. They can be removed from the skin with medicated creams and liquids, by freezing with liquid nitrogen, through surgery, or by laser treatment.

Your medical advisor must be contacted and will give you advice on the best treatment for you. Medications used to treat warts on the hands or feet should not be used to treat genital warts because they can be harmful to the genital skin. Warts may be more difficult to treat in persons with a weakened immune system, such as those with advanced HIV infection. Although warts can be removed, there is no cure for the original HPV infection.

If you're diagnosed with genital warts, it's important to tell everyone you've had sex with recently, so they can be evaluated for HPV and other STDS and treated appropriately. There is currently no widely available test to tell whether someone without visible warts or other symptoms is infected with HPV.

This article is provided for general reading and entertainment and is not medical advice. Consult your medical advisor, doctor or nurse about all aspects of any ailment and treatment.

Steve Evans - About the Author:

Steve Evans has provided a new web site for those looking for wart treatment. It is an unappealling subject, and no exactly a great thing to have to research, but a visit to the Wart Treatment and Removal web site is recommended before you pay out for any wart treatment or off-the-shelf remedy.

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