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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