Scientifically it is known as Genital Human Papilloma Virus gets to affect many people at some stage in their lives. In fact a majority of the people who get infected don't know about it. It catches them stealthily, causing no symptoms
and simply goes away. The transmission of the HPV virus is usually through sexual contact of any kind with an infected person. Some people have it without their knowledge pass it on to their sexual partners.
Just like many other viral diseases, there is no known cure for the Human papilloma virus, although treatment is available for the other health challenges that come as a symptom of HPV such as cancer of the cervix and genital warts. There are several things you can do to prevent yourself from getting a HPV infection. Some of them are:
Total abstinence from any sexual contact
For those who cannot abstain from sex, then you must limit the number of sexual partners that you have. The fewer they are the lesser the chances of an infection.
Use of condoms is known to lower the chances of getting HPV if and when they are used as recommended. However, HPV can infect even other areas not covered by a condom.
However, washing your genitals, douching or urinating immediately after sex is not one of the ways to protect yourself like many people have come to believe, it is all a big lie.
HPV is a virus that manifests itself in many ways. There are both high risk and low risk infections and it is only a qualified medical practitioner who can advice you correctly whenever you suspect an infection. One of the most common outside sign that you are infected is genital warts. In themselves the warts may not look like a serious health problem. They also vary greatly in appearance: some are flat or raised, singular or in a colony, tiny or sizably big.
What else should I know?
When men are infected with HPV they develop warts either on their penis, scrotum or groin whereas women develop them on the vagina, vulva or the cervix. The other common place for both sexes to develop warts is the anus or the thigh.
It is highly possible that people with HPV can easily develop cancer especially of the cervix which of course can lead to other forms of cancer as well.
Persistent forms of HPV that stays on and on for a long time even after treatment are suspected to be the cause of cancer are caused by the same class of HPV that also predisposes somebody to the risk of getting cancer.
When you suspect you have HPV or genital warts it's not time to start blaming your sexual partner. Some people have been known to keep it for long before the general symptoms begin to appear. Talk to your sexual partner and seek treatment together.
Recurrence of Genital Warts is probably everybody’s nightmare: recurring genital warts. It was bad enough that you had to go through it one time, but to even imagine that you might have to go through it again is nearly unbearable. And as a person who trod down that nightmare path many a time myself, I can tell you that it’s no picnic.
Although you might have thought that your genital warts were cured when they disappeared there’s a 50% chance recurrence of genital warts within about 1 year or so.
This is due to the fact that although the genital warts can disappear of their own accord, be medicinally treated, or surgically incised or removed, the HPV strain which caused it can live on in you. Sometimes it can live in your body up to 1-2 years for the HPV to be resolved within your body itself.
Sometimes, in a few cases recurrence of genital warts can live on in a person for close to a lifetime. Even if your body does oust the invading HPV strain, it doesn’t mean that you now automatically get immunity from recurrence of genital warts strains.
You’ll only be immune to the strain that you contracted and dispelled from your body. This means that you will still be open to recurrence of genital warts. This is why it’s difficult for doctors to know whether you have a recurrence of genital warts of the same HPV strain or whether you have another strain of HPV.
What this means, is that most people who get recurrence of genital warts in fact, get it again even after successful removal of the warts in the first place. However, don’t despair at the thought of having to deal with the dreaded genital warts all over again.
It has long been thought, although not proven, that successful removal or eradication of the warts can aid in the eradication of the HPV infection within you as well. It hasn’t been proven that this is the case, but what it does do however, is to shine a ray of hope into what could otherwise be a very gloomy outlook.
By getting treatment for your genital warts and not ignoring them altogether, you’re at least giving your body a fighting chance against its war with the recurrence of genital warts. There are many reasons for recurrence of genital warts though, and they don’t all have to do with the HPV infection living on within your body.
A recurrence of genital warts can be down to any one of these reasons, which is why follow-up appointments with your doctor are highly recommended, as is continued use of any or all of the preventative measures.
Recurrence of genital warts can occur due to due to,
• A compromised immune system (for instance if you have HIV-AIDS)
• If you have cervical cancer
• If you have herpes or other sexually transmitted diseases
• If you have sexual intercourse with a partner infected with genital HPV
• If the HPV infection has a long incubation period
• If some warts were missed or overlooked during the initial treatment
• If lesions were deep
Recurrence of genital warts is a complication that a lot of people have to live, and which almost 50% of people consider their reality. It doesn’t have to be the case, but it can happen and if you have already had Recurrence of genital warts then you should take steps to prevent it as far as possible.
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Curing Genital Warts for Years. For More Information on Recurrence of Genital Warts, Visit His Site at Recurrence of Genital Warts
Sexual Intercourse is the number one method through which HPV strains which cause genital warts are passed on. Having sexual intercourse with a partner who is already infected with the HPV genital wart strain will give you a 66% chance, or two-thirds of a chance, of getting genital warts yourself. Sexual intercourse in this case implies not only vaginal sex, but also oral sex, and anal sex.
There are ways by which you can prevent or avoid getting genital warts, but if your sexual partner has it, then there’s a likelihood that you will also get it. And since it might take a few months even a few years for genital warts to manifest itself in a person who has been infected, even a person who is reasonably certain that they don’t have genital warts might indeed have the HPV infection present within them.
There’s also the chance that if you indulge in oral sex with an infected partner, that you can get genital warts HPV strain in your throat. (Laryngeal papiolloma) Although using a condom or spermicides will not give you a 100% success rate of preventing or avoiding genital warts, not using either one is just asking for disaster to befall you. If you have sex with a partner who has genital warts, you have a two thirds chance of getting it yourself. By using a condom however, you can significantly cut down on that risk.
Non-monogamous Relationships as a “cause” of genital warts can also be split into two sections. Sexual intercourse with more than one partner, and, Sexual intercourse with a partner who has had multiple partner Both of these leaves room for you to get genital warts, and if you fall into either one of these categories you might want to have a full checkup to make sure that you don’t have HPV even if you don’t display any of the signs or symptoms. Sexual intercourse with more than one partner needn’t be taken to mean that you’re having sexual relations with more than one partner at a time. If you’re sexually active and have had more than one sexual partner over the course of that time, you’re at risk for getting genital warts.
It can also be taken that if you have more than one sexual partner at a time you have a good chance of getting genital HPV. If you have only ever had one sexual partner, but he or she has had more than partner in their lifetime, there’s a chance that you might get genital warts through them.
Since the genital warts don’t always manifest themselves immediately, there’s a chance that they didn’t realize they have HPV. If this is the case you might become infected without either of you being any the wiser.
There’s also the case that although you might be in a monogamous relationship, your partner might not be, in which case they might be sexually active with one or more other sexual partners. These are all ways and means by which you can get genital warts without your being aware of it. And that’s why it’s recommended that if you have genital warts, that your sexual partner (or partners) also have an examination for genital warts.
Although Sexual Intercourse in the Early Teen Years doesn’t necessarily have to be so, if you start to have sexual relations at a very young age – under 18 – you’re at a risk of getting genital warts. That’s one of the main reasons why a pap smear is recommended for sexually active young girls. Sexually transmitted diseases are nothing to laugh at, and genital HPV once contracted won’t disappear easily. The infection can sometimes linger for a few years, and the genital can even recur.
This is also the reason that the newly FDA passed vaccine for genital HPV, Gardasil, is recommended as being given as young as 9-12
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Curing Genital Warts for Years. For More Information on Genital Warts, Visit His Site at Genital Warts
Warts are skin developments caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than sixty varieties of HPV, a few of which tend to cause warts on the skin. HPV stimulates rapid growth of cells on the skin's outer layer. In most cases, basic warts seem on the fingers, near the fingernails, or on the hands. Certain types of HPV can also cause warts to appear in the genital area.
Plantar warts: This type of wart generally seems as flesh-colored or light brown lumps that are flecked with small clotted blood vessels that appear as tiny black dots. Plantar warts (verrucas) appear on the soles of the feet.
Genital warts: Genital warts can come out in the pubic area, on the genitals, in the anus, and/or in the vagina. They look like little flesh-colored, pink or red growths in or around the sex organs. The warts may look same to the little parts of a cauliflower or they may be very small and difficult to see. They often appear in clusters of 3 or 4, and may develop and spread rapidly. They're not generally painful, although they may sometimes cause mild pain, bleeding and itching. HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United Kingdom and certain forms of the virus can cause cervical cancer.
Flat warts: This type of wart is common in teens and kids than in grownups. Flat warts are smoother and smaller than other warts and they generally happen on the face. Flat warts also can appear on the legs, especially among females.
Warts are caused through direct contact with HPV, which is contagious. HPV may spread by person-to-person contact or through direct contact with an object used by a person with the virus. The virus that causes warts also can spread to other parts of the body of the person with warts.
How are warts treated?
In most cases, warts found on the skin are harmless and can disappear without treatment. However, genital warts should be viewed by a doctor.
Sometimes, warts may reoccur later treatment and more than one type of treatment may be essential. Although practitioners attempt to clear warts quickly, most processes require multiple treatments. Treatments may include:
Freezing (cryotherapy):
A doctor will use liquid nitrogen to freeze a wart. A blister forms close to the wart and the dead tissue falls off within about a week.
Salicylic acid: The acid "burns" off the top layer of the wart. Every few days the dead tissue can be rubbed away with emery paper, so the wart is removed bit by bit.
Covering with duct tape: A new study found that covering a wart with strong adhesive tape is likely to clear the wart within a month or 2 (duct tape was used in the study.) In this study, about 7 in 10 warts had cleared within two months utilizing duct tape. It may be worth a try as it is painless. However, further studies are needed to clarify the role of this treatment.
Minor operation: When warts can't be removed by additional therapies, operation may be wont to cut away the wart. The base of the wart will be destroyed using an electric needle or by cryosurgery (deep freezing).
Laser surgery: This process uses an intense beam of light (laser) to burn and destroy wart tissue. It may be used for warts that are difficult to treat.
Technically called condiloma acuminata, genital warts are small growths. They can be very little or can appear in big masses in the following area:
• Inside or outside the vagina
• On the opening of the uterus
• Tip of the penis
• Shaft of the penis
• Scrotum
• Around the anus
• Inner the mouth or throat people carrying out oral sex
The virus gains entering into the skin and mucus layer thru narrow, microscopic cuts on the genital area which in turn may form as a result of sexual activities. The HPV has a long incubation period of time and the genital warts don't come out immediately later entry of virus. The dormancy period may be months or even years after which the first wart makes it is appearance.
Kissing froggie feet doesn't cause Plantar warts, and neither does playing footsie with toads. Plantar warts are caused by a specific strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV), although not the one which causes genital warts. As if that wasn't revolting enough, we often pick these nasty skin infections up in swimming pools and humid communal changing areas from complete strangers. Often they are difficult to get rid of, but for the most part they're completely harmless, albeit supremely unpleasant.
Also known as verucca plantaris, plantar warts get their name as plantar means bottom (no, not your butt!) as they typically appear on the bottom, or soles, of the foot. With these type of warts you can get either one, or a solitary wart, or a larger cluster of warts, known as a mosaic wart. Mosaic warts are much harder to treat than a single wart, although a single one may eventually multiply and cause other single warts to grow (cute!).
Spotting a Wart
Plantar warts are notoriously difficult to categorize, as they often disguise themselves as a harmless little callus. This is because hard skin is formed around the wart once it starts to grow, thanks to the pressure we put on our feet when walking. A doctor can differentiate between the two in most cases, or you can tell from its behavior: plantar warts can cause pain when walking, and will hurt if you squeeze them on the sides.
While many plantar warts cause little or no distress, it's recommended to get rid of them for a variety of reasons, including: Stigma. Small children in particular can suffer at school when others discover they have plantar warts, although they are incredibly common. It's estimated that up to 10 percent of the American population is suffering from at least one plantar wart at any given time. Not wanting them to spread on the body. One tiny wart can turn into several warts, or a mosaic wart, so it's best to nip it in the bud when it makes its first appearance. Not wanting them to spread to others. These types of warts are quite contagious and can spread quickly in any areas that are warm or moist, such as a locker room or changing pool. Pain. Sometimes they can cause pain or discomfort, and can rub against certain footwear causing additional distress.
Symptoms of Plantar Warts
Plantar warts can cause a variety of symptoms. They can be very small and somewhat grainy, or they can appear larger with a small type of pinprick in the middle, which is actually a clotted blood vessel, or a series of them. There can be pain when you walk and tiny bumps on the creases of your foot. Often you will get warts on both feet, not just one.
You should see a doctor about them if they cause you any distress, either physical or emotional. Also see a doctor if they change in color or appearance, or if they appear to be getting more prolific. If you have a circulatory disorder or diabetes you should also seek medical attention, and not try home removal remedies. Never try to get rid of warts at home without first seeking medical advice in general, or try out (usually bogus) folk remedies. They will not work, and in some cases can cause more harm than good.
Remember, also, that you can spread the wart virus to other parts of your body by scratching or even touching uninfected parts after you have touched your wart. So be very, very careful!
Treating a Wart
All plantar warts are non-cancerous and never pose a serious health threat, but nonetheless it is advisable to treat them before they spread. Some people try using duct tape, applied to the wart for several days before being pulled off. This rarely works so if you want to be 100 percent sure of their removal, see a doctor.
There are several medically recognized ways to get rid of plantar warts, including:
Letting them clear up by themselves. Not always recommended for above reasons, so ask your doctor.
Topical treatment. Often cantharidin, derived from the blister beetle (no, really), is applied to the wart along with salicylic acid, then covered with a bandage and eventually peeled or scraped off. Sometimes prescription creams are used.
Oral treatment. Medications that boost your immune system and help in the Battle Against Warts are used.
Laser Therapy. Used primarily for stubborn warts that has resisted alternative treatment. Can hurt and be costly.
Cryotherapy or freezing. A medical professional will apply liquid nitrogen directly to the wart to freeze it off. Can be painful so is usually only used on adults.
Surgery. An electric needle will cut it away.
Plantar warts are not a bundle of laughs, and mosaic warts could even ward off the most die-hard of foot fetishists. But they are not the end of the world. Keeping your feet clean and dry and wearing footwear in humid, moist public places such as locker rooms and public showers and saunas will help you avoid contracting the wart virus.
If you already have warts, avoid spreading them by trying not to pick them, washing your hands carefully if you touch them, and not sharing towels with others. Also, do not use the same nail clippers and files on your affected feet as you use on your hands.
If you think a callus is actually a plantar wart, seek medical treatment today before it spreads, and try not to infect others while you're at it. These warty issues can be dealt with, but it can take time, energy and a ruthless determination to get rid of the nasty buggers completely and forever. Good luck!
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care an appropriate health care provider.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases: say before! Be better informed to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections or make other aware, your friends, your children become teenagers...
1) A person who has a cold sore can transmit genital herpes to your partner:
Yes, but only during the infectious period of cold sores.
No, definitely not.
Typically, the cold sore is caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV 1) and HSV 2 genital herpes. However, one can give an HSV1 and HSV2 vice versa. Thus, a partner who has a cold sore can transmit the genital herpes and vice versa.
2) The morning-after pill is free:
For everyone.
Only for minors.
Emergency contraception is available at pharmacies without a prescription.
It is offered free only to minors.
3) Condoms and HPV, the virus family involved in cancer of the cervix:
The condom does not protect any of papillomavirus.
It protects some, but not enough.
The HPV virus is transmitted through semen or genital secretions, but the mucous membranes. But condoms do not prevent contact between mucous membranes, which prevents transmission of HPV very inadequate.
The only way to protect against HPV and prevent cancer of the cervix is the vaccination of young girls and to conduct regular smears.
4) In case of risk capital, the AIDS test should be done:
Immediately
Three months later.
If you think you have been exposed to a risk of infection unprotected intercourse, condom failure, injury with an object contaminated blood, sharing of injecting equipment ..., go to the emergency room of a hospital in a screening anonymous and free screening center.
Otherwise, within 15 to 90 days after exposure, can detect whether or not you are infected with the AIDS virus after a screening test.
5) Some sexually transmissible virus can cause:
Cancer.
Diabetes.
Papillomaviruses are viruses that cause cancer of the cervix.
6) The morning-after pill is effective:
In the condition should only be taken no later than the next day (within 24 hours maximum).
Even more than 24 hours after sexual relation of risk is still worth the shot to take.
Note that the effectiveness of morning after pill (or emergency contraception) is not 100%. It is about 95% when taken within 24 hours and then decreases rapidly to reach.
7) After several months of condom use with a single partner, we can stop the condom:
Only if one has confidence in your partner.
Not without each screening test for AIDS.
We may be living with HIV without knowing it. They may also underestimate their risk. This is not a matter of trusting or not. There is no doubt stop the condom (which is the only way to protect against this very serious illness), with each partner has been tested for the AIDS virus. Then, each partner shows the result for the other.
8) The HPV can also cause disease in humans, such as:
Genital warts.
Testicular cancer.
Papillomavirus are not only responsible for cancer of the cervix. In women as in men, they can cause the mucous membranes of the genital warts or crest, a kind of small warts.
9) There is a preventive treatment against AIDS?
Yes, provided it is taken within 48 hours of taking risks.
No, there is a treatment that can prevent AIDS.
There is actually a preventive treatment should be taken within 48 hours of taking risks. It reduces the risk of infection after exposure to HIV. It consists of several drugs active against HIV and should be taken for 4 weeks.
10) When is a screening test for AIDS, the result is known:
Immediately.
Within 3 to 7 days.
The test requires only a simple blood test, but the result is not immediate. Will be communicated within 3 to 7 days, during a second consultation.
Each year tens of thousands of young women should be thinking about whether they should start having their Pap smear done. So what is this smear test, how is it done and is it really necessary now that girls are having HPV vaccinations at school?
But first a few essential facts:
•A Pap smear is performed when a nurse or doctor samples cells from the cervix. This is the lowest part of the uterus and is accessible to sampling through the vagina.
•Cancer of the cervix has fallen from being the 8th to the 18th most common cancer in women since the introduction of the Pap smear registry program. These cancers often take several years to develop and so are very amenable to early diagnosis and management.
•The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is thought to be one of the main triggers of this form of cancer. There are over 100 different types of HPV infections, but only a few are thought to be the major instigators of this form of cancer. The Gardisil vaccine, recently introduced into the vaccination program for young women, targets these particular viruses.
•HPV is very prevalent in the community, but as infections with the virus are not a modifiable disease, we don’t have accurate statistics; however, according to information from the Mayo Clinic in the USA, over 25 million US citizens are infected with the virus.
Who should have a Pap smear?
Local, national and international experts differ on when and how often Pap smears should be performed. So here’s my guide to when and how often:
•Start within 12 months after the onset of sexual activity and have them annually until you have had two negative Paps - then you can have them every 2 years.
•If you change your sexual partner, go back to annual testing until you’ve had 2 negative annual tests again. The more partners the greater the risk of infection.
•If there has been no sexual activity, then start at age 21.
•In a monogamous relationship, Pap smears can be done safely every two years.
•There are no specific guidelines on when to stop, some suggest after the age of 70, some 65. My suggestion is to discuss this with your GP.
You can safely stop if you have had a total hysterectomy for a non cancerous condition, as the cervix will have been removed with the uterus.
What do the results mean?
A normal test means that there have been no abnormal cells detected and it is 95% certain that there is no cancer. A positive test doesn’t mean that you have got cancer; it means that you have some abnormal cells and it’s wise to have a closer look at your cervix and more tests.
In other words, here in WA, you should see a specialist in that area who will review your findings and suggest a colostomy and biopsy. A colposcope is an instrument that allows the specialist to get close to the cervix and magnify it greatly for more detailed inspection. Any suspicious areas can then be biopsies for examination in the laboratory.
How can we reduce the risk of developing problems with the cervix?
•Being in a monogamous relationship.
•Reducing the number of sexual partners.
•Using a latex condom may reduce transmission of most, but not all, HPV infections.
Discussing being immunized against HPV infections before the infection finds you!
