Genital Warts

Genital warts

        Genital warts have an incubation period of 1 to 3 months. One to three months can pass between when we contracted the infection and where it grows. Sexually transmitted infection is highly contagious. The risk of co-infection is of course important because genital warts shrink like other STDs, that is to say during unprotected sex (in particular: direct contact of skin to skin with the penis, vagina, vulva, anus). Note: it is possible to contract HPV (some strains are the cause of genital warts), kissing or touching the genitals of a partner with the mouth.

How to recognize genital warts?

        These growths tissue have the appearance of warts or colored skin. They are located at the penis or anus in men and at the vulva, vagina, cervix or anus in women. "Typically an infected person has many warts that vary in size but usually visible to the naked eye," says Dr. Marie Razon, a general practitioner in Paris. If the lesions are usually painless and does not scratch, it is indispensable to treat. The doctor recommends a topical treatment for a period of 3 to 15 weeks depending on the case. The patient then applies an ointment that will "burn" the genital warts. If injuries do not disappear, they can guide the patient to a laser treatment or surgery.

        Genital warts are also called warts: warts can be visible to the naked eye (small warts on the sex) or be invisible. The doctor then uses a specific test for detecting them.

        There are three types of warts:

• Condylomata acuminata (genital warts). The warts often resemble verrucous papillomas: these are small warts on the vulva, the penis (or they are often called "cock's comb"), the anal margin and having the appearance of small masses of pink.
• Condylomata papular. These genital warts resembling flat warts: these take the form of small discreet brown or pink elevations
• Condylomata plans. These genital warts are sometimes invisible to the naked eye, sometimes they have the appearance of small red spots.

Genital warts symptoms

        After contamination, one can observe the presence of small skin growths on the genitals and / or anal area. These small warts appear on, around or in the vagina, the cervix, the penis, testicles or the anal region. These lesions may either be isolated or develop in groups, which then gives them the appearance of a cauliflower. On the cervix, they look like spots. These internal lesions can be detected only during a pelvic exam. Warts or genital warts may not appear until weeks, months or even years after infection. It is therefore quite possible that a person who has not had sex for months, can still develop genital warts. For warts that develop in the cervix, the period between infection and the formation of lesions may be even longer. In people who are sexually active or who frequently change partners, it is extremely difficult to determine when and by whom they were contaminated.

Genital warts treatment

        There are two main types of treatment: gels and creams to apply yourself and therapies delivered by a doctor. There are no data clearly showing that a treatment is better than another. The treatment by doctors include, for example:

• Cryotherapy, which involves "freezing" the wart.
• The trichloroacetic acid, which is especially effective for small warts on moist skin.
• The electrocautery, which involves destroying the wart with an electrical current.
• The laser therapy, which involves spraying the wart and not generally used on extensive warts or resistant to other treatments.
• Surgical removal, which is especially appropriate when there are only a few small warts or when not sure that the growths are associated with HPV.

        All treatments can cause irritation and discomfort on the treated area, as well as changes in skin color question. There is also a risk of chronic pain, but it is extremely rare.