What are Genital Warts

Genital warts are highly contagious anogenital infection usually transmitted through sexual contacts with an infected person. Genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus commonly referred as HPV. According to some researches about 15% of world's population is infected with HPV, while the number of infected people is even growing. About 1% of HPV infected people have genital warts.

Genital warts are a symptom of HPV infection. There are over 100 identified HPV types which are generally divided into low and high-risk genotypes. Genital warts are most frequently caused by HPV-6 or HPV-11 which are low risk HPV genotypes. Since HPV infection is most commonly transmitted with sexual contacts the majority of infected people are sexually active adults. Incubation period - the time from HPV infection to genital warts development greatly varies from person to person, while in some HPV infected people genital warts do not occur. Thus one can become infected with genital warts by a person who does not have genital warts.

Latent infection with high-risk HPV genotypes (usually HPV-16 and HPV-18) can cause cervical cancer but HPV genotypes which cause genital warts are usually not presenting a risk of cancer even in visible genital warts. Despite that women who have genital warts should to do the test for cervical cancer yearly.

At the moment there is no cure for HPV infection, while HPV vaccine can be used only as prevention and is effective only if given before being exposed to HPV. HPV infection might not cause any signs and symptoms of infection, while HPV infection resolves on its own without any consequences after 8 to 12 months in over 80%. However, in some people immune system does not defeat the virus. In this case HPV infection is latent or persistent.

Genital warts can be removed although there is no cure for HPV. Removal of genital warts takes place in several ways depending on their size and location: various chemicals, laser cauterization, electrocautery, cryosurgery and surgical removal if not responding to any treatment. However, besides conventional treatment genital warts can be also treated with natural products such as Wartol Homeopathic Genital Warts Relief which help to relieve the symptoms.

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