Genital Warts

There is serious concern amongst sexual health experts about the rise in cases of genital warts; affecting the genitalia of both sexes they can even infect the anus. Unusually, this can also be transmitted via the mouth although this strain of human papilloma virus is primarily caught through sexual intercourse with an infected person. This is one particular instance where using a condom will not always prevent the genital warts; women can be infected and be unaware of the situation for a long time making them easy to transmit to others.

Just to compound the problem, there is no reason why once infected a person is infected, they do not have to show signs straight away and the virus may not activate for months, even longer. Tracking down the carrier is problematic and of no use because it will be carried by every new person infected. The strain that causes ano-genital warts is called HPV6 (human papilloma virus 6) but this is only one of over different types of HPV virus. Unfortunately women can be unwilling and unknowing carriers of warts as they are often hidden in the vagina and probably won't be discovered until she has visited her doctor for a routine examination of her cervix.

The problem is made worse by the environment that genital warts use to multiply, damp and moist areas; and this is exactly what they find in and around a woman's genitals, plus some discharge may be present. One of the safest methods of wart removal is the application of very cold liquid nitrogen by a doctor or dermatologist; however it often takes a few applications before the skin and its tissue are destroyed. Using liquid nitrogen is a painless process but cannot be used on certain areas of the body which is why it is for the doctor or dermatologist to decide.

Two further options are available to doctors, the traditional cauterizing the wart or the more modern but equally efficient laser process. Each treatment is dependent on where the infected area is but removal is no guarantee they will not return at some pint in the future. Imiquimod liquid is used topically to treat genital warts (and anal) as it helps the body's immune system to fight the virus and to get rid of them but it does not kill the virus and new infections can still appear when imiquimod is being used.

Before using imiquimod it is a good idea to consult with the doctor first because there are instances where it cannot be used as a treatment, including when a woman is pregnant; this liquid cannot be applied inside the vagina or on the genitals nor on inflamed areas of skin. Like all medications, imiquimod has side effects and if these are experienced it should be stopped immediately but this is worth discussing with your doctor prior to using it. Any information presented here is done to give an overview of the subject of genital warts and is not a substitute for professional medical advice which should be sought if the condition in this article relates to you.