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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What Are the Different Types of Wart Treatments?

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.

Types of warts

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.

Seomul Evans - About the Author:

Seomul Evans is a copywriter with an interest in: Internet Marketing Services, Skin Care, and Warts.

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Human HPV Virus Causes Genital Warts

The Human HPV virus is the cause of commonest sexually transmitted infection in the United States today. This is a family of around forty viruses which cause genital warts. The infection is also called condyloma acuminate and is transmitted very easily through the sexual route. If you or your sex partner has genital warts, you can understand the causes of the infection in this article.

The Hman Papilloma Virus, also called the Human HPV Virus shows great affinity to the genital skin. Around 130 HPV viruses have been identified as of now. The viruses share a common property of causing warts when they infect skin. Out of these viruses around 40 are transmitted through the sexual route. There are some viruses in this sub category which cause genital warts, the others tend to have latent infections which do not show any symptoms. The viruses are very easily transmitted. Medical studies have documented transmission of the virus through the sexual route, through oral sex and even by infected hands. This makes the virus a constant threat for you if you have any risk factors that increase the chances of getting infected.

For women , a Human HPV virus infection has many more consequences. The condition is usually latent and may flare up only during periods of hormonal changes. You might have a silent infection and only manifest symptoms during pregnancy. There is also a risk of really severe symptoms during pregnancy. During this time, there are higher chances of larger warts which are prone to bleeding copiously. If you do not get treated for human HPV Virus during pregnancy, there is also a chance that you might transmit it to your baby during childbirth. The baby may then have an infection which can cause breathing obstruction and feeding difficulties. Women also have another problem due to this infection. If you have been infected with particular strains of the virus, there are chances that you might develop cervical cancer down the line.

The best protection for women right now is a vaccine called Gardasil. The vaccine is effective against the two most common strains of the virus which lead to cancer. Getting vaccinated against the infection is a good idea if you have many partners or have had sexual relations with unknown people. If you are in your teens or twenties, this is a very cost effective way of preventing cancer. Another important part of cancer prevention due to Human HPV virus would be regular check ups. There is a check up called Pap smear which allows the doctor to analyze the cells in the cervical area. The Human HPV virus infection frequently causes changes in the structure and number of cells in the genital skin. The test will help the doctor pinpoint any focus of altered cell shape and structure. If these foci are removed, the chances of cancer will decrease dramatically. Preventing infection also means that you will have to take precautions while having sex. You must use a form of barrier contraception if you or your partner has any risk factors for the infection.

Karl Dorads - About the Author:

You can visit our website for more information about Genital warts and Genital Warts Treatments. We have a lot of articles about Genital Warts, Genital Wart Medication, Genital Wart Removal, Genital Wart Symptoms...

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/human-hpv-virus-causes-genital-warts-545641.html

Human HPV Virus Causes Genital Warts

The Human HPV virus is the cause of commonest sexually transmitted infection in the United States today. This is a family of around forty viruses which cause genital warts. The infection is also called condyloma acuminate and is transmitted very easily through the sexual route. If you or your sex partner has genital warts, you can understand the causes of the infection in this article.

The Hman Papilloma Virus, also called the Human HPV Virus shows great affinity to the genital skin. Around 130 HPV viruses have been identified as of now. The viruses share a common property of causing warts when they infect skin. Out of these viruses around 40 are transmitted through the sexual route. There are some viruses in this sub category which cause genital warts, the others tend to have latent infections which do not show any symptoms. The viruses are very easily transmitted. Medical studies have documented transmission of the virus through the sexual route, through oral sex and even by infected hands. This makes the virus a constant threat for you if you have any risk factors that increase the chances of getting infected.

For women , a Human HPV virus infection has many more consequences. The condition is usually latent and may flare up only during periods of hormonal changes. You might have a silent infection and only manifest symptoms during pregnancy. There is also a risk of really severe symptoms during pregnancy. During this time, there are higher chances of larger warts which are prone to bleeding copiously. If you do not get treated for human HPV Virus during pregnancy, there is also a chance that you might transmit it to your baby during childbirth. The baby may then have an infection which can cause breathing obstruction and feeding difficulties. Women also have another problem due to this infection. If you have been infected with particular strains of the virus, there are chances that you might develop cervical cancer down the line.

The best protection for women right now is a vaccine called Gardasil. The vaccine is effective against the two most common strains of the virus which lead to cancer. Getting vaccinated against the infection is a good idea if you have many partners or have had sexual relations with unknown people. If you are in your teens or twenties, this is a very cost effective way of preventing cancer. Another important part of cancer prevention due to Human HPV virus would be regular check ups. There is a check up called Pap smear which allows the doctor to analyze the cells in the cervical area. The Human HPV virus infection frequently causes changes in the structure and number of cells in the genital skin. The test will help the doctor pinpoint any focus of altered cell shape and structure. If these foci are removed, the chances of cancer will decrease dramatically. Preventing infection also means that you will have to take precautions while having sex. You must use a form of barrier contraception if you or your partner has any risk factors for the infection.

Karl Dorads - About the Author:

You can visit our website for more information about Genital warts and Genital Warts Treatments. We have a lot of articles about Genital Warts, Genital Wart Medication, Genital Wart Removal, Genital Wart Symptoms...

Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/human-hpv-virus-causes-genital-warts-545641.html