Genital warts may be small, flat, flesh-colored bumps or tiny, cauliflower-like bumps. In men, genital warts can grow on the penis, near the anus, or between the penis and the scrotum. In women, genital warts may grow on the vulva and perinea area, in the vagina and on the cervix. Genital warts vary in size and may even be so small that you can’t see them. They can lead to cancer of the cervix in women or cancer of the penis in men.
Most patients with genital warts are seen between the ages of 17-33 years. Genital warts are highly contagious. You have a 60% risk of getting the infection in a single sexual contact with someone who has genital warts.
Genital warts do not usually hurt, but they can be itchy. The warts have varied appearances - from completely flat warts to rough cauliflower-like warts. They can appear on their own or in groups.
In males, genital warts often appear on the penis or underneath the foreskin. The warts can also be situated in the urethra, in most cases at the very end of it, and the area around the rectum.
In females, the virus can lead to changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer, so it’s important that it is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Males infected with HPV can also be at risk for cancer of the penis and the anus.
Causes of Genital Warts
Like warts that appear on other areas of your skin, genital warts are caused by a virus — HPV — that infects the top layers of your skin. There are more than 100 different types of HPV, but only a few can cause genital warts. These strains of the virus are highly contagious and spread through sexual contact with an infected person. About two-thirds of people who have sexual contact with someone who has genital warts develop the condition — usually within three months of contact, but in some cases not for years.
Signs of Genital Warts
If you are infected with a strain of HPV that causes genital warts, you may develop symptoms of genital warts anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after exposure. In some cases, though, the virus may lay dormant in your system for a few years before you develop any genital warts symptoms.
It is possible that symptoms of genital warts may be missed if the warts are located within the vaginal walls. Always seek immediate help if you start displaying any of the genital warts symptoms. In some cases genital warts symptoms may be considered as symptoms of other problems, such as a yeast infection.
Genital warts can be so flat that they become invisible to the naked eye, but they usually make themselves felt through an itchy and burning sensation. ‘Invisible’ genital warts can be detected by a doctor as described below.
Genital warts can be invisible to the human eye, or can multiply rapidly into larger clusters. They can have the appearance of small flat bumps, or cauliflower-like growths. Many people may carry the virus for long periods of time without knowing that they are infected - something that can be confirmed with medical testing.
In many cases genital warts do not cause any symptoms, but they are sometimes associated with itching, burning, or tenderness. They may result in localized irritation, depending upon their anatomic location. Women who have genital warts inside the vagina may experience bleeding following sexual intercourse or an abnormal vaginal discharge. Rarely, bleeding or urinary obstruction may occur if the wart involves the urethral opening.
Genital warts symptoms can lead to cancer in the cervix so it important to receive proper medical treatment.
In men genital wart symptoms can infect the urethra, penis, scrotum, and rectal area. Warts may appear as soft, raised masses with a surface that can be smooth on the (penile shaft), or rough with many finger like projections (anal warts). Other genital wart symptoms may appear pearly, and cauliflower shaped, some are rough with a darker surface.
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