Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies

Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies is an article that is for the layman about genital warts and the symptoms of genital warts.

They have computer information for dummies so why not Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies?

After all, who out there knows everything there is to know about genital warts and genital wart symptoms? It isn’t something that you would bring up in church at choir practice or at the dinner table or having a cup of herbal tea with your best friend. Most people are embarrassed to talk about it and so you can imagine the stigma of actually having this horrible STD, called genital warts.

Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies-What Are Genital Warts

Genital warts are caused by a virus called HPV. That is short for human papillomavirus or human papilloma virus. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some of them cause the kind of warts you see on people’s hands and feet. Those common warts are caused by types of viruses that are very different from those that cause genital warts.

Genital warts are warts that are located near or in the genital areas. In a female, that means on or near the vulva (the outside genital area), vagina, cervix, or anus. In a male, that means near or on the penis, scrotum, or anus.

In some cases, genital warts can appear in the mouth, lips and throats of those who have had oral sex with someone who is infected with the genital warts virus.

You are right in thinking that this is one bad STD. It is also the most common STD and it can lead to cancer. Once the virus enters your system, it will never leave. There is no cure for the virus.

Do we have your attention yet?

Genital warts appear as very small bumps or growths. They can be flat or raised, single or many, small or large. They tend to be whitish or flesh colored. They are not always easy to see with the naked eye, and many times a person with genital warts doesn’t know that they have contacted the disease. Which means, that they are carrying genital warts around with them…infecting everyone that they have sexual contact with. Some times, a person can have the virus for months or even years before it shows any sign or symptom that they have genital warts.

Pretty scary, isn’t?

There area more than 30 types of HPV that actually cause the symptom, genital warts.

Genital warts can be passed from person to person through intimate sexual contact. That includes vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

This is one of the worst conditions of genital warts…in some rare cases, genital warts are transmitted from a mother to her baby during childbirth.

HPV infections are common in teens and young adults. Studies show that as many as 1 in 2 people can have them at some point in their lives. The more sexual partners someone has, the more likely it is that the person will get an HPV infection. In other words, the cards are against you.

Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies-What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Genital Warts

Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms. So someone can be infected and pass the disease on to another person without knowing.

However, people do get visible warts. They start out so small that you can not even see them. Then they are very tiny maybe even itchy.

People often don’t have any symptoms from genital warts, the warts usually do not hurt or itch, which is one reason why people may not know they have them.

Doctors can diagnose warts by examining the skin closely (sometimes with a magnifying glass) and using a special solution to make them easier to see.

A Pap smear can detect genital warts in a woman. A pap smear is a test that is performed during a gynecologic exam and there are other tests that can help diagnose an HPV infection.

Experts believe that when a wart is present, the virus may be more contagious. But HPV can still be spread even without any visible warts.

Genital warts are spread from skin to skin contact and sometimes…though less likely, you can get genital warts from towel sharing or clothing sharing.

Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies-When Will Genital Warts Symptoms Appear

Someone who has been exposed to genital warts may have warts appear any time from several weeks to several months after contact. Sometimes genital warts can take longer to appear. The HPV virus can live in the body for a very long time without causing any symptoms, what so ever.

Many people who are infected with HPV don’t show any symptoms. So, anyone having casual sex should get regular medical checkups and tell their doctor about their sexual history.

Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies-What Can Happen with Genital Warts

Sometimes, if genital warts are left untreated, genital warts may grow bigger and multiply. Growing into clusters of warts. Often, they go away on their own without treatment…but this doesn’t mean people can ignore genital warts.

If you are a female, it is important that you know that some types of HPV are especially dangerous for females because they can cause problems with the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer. That’s right, the big “C” word.

Since HPV can have such serious consequences for females, those who are having sexual activity, should see a gynecologist, who can do a Pap smear and test for changes in the cervix from HPV.

Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies-How Are Genital Warts Prevented

The only surefire way to prevent genital warts is abstinence and that means NO sex of any kind. Teens who do have sex can get some protection by properly using a latex condom every time they have any form of sexual intercourse. That includes all acts, vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

Condoms may not give complete protection because the virus can spread from the areas of the genitals not covered by the condom. Condoms also reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as pregnancy.
But, remember that condoms can come off and they can break and the only way to not get warts is to NOT HAVE SEX. Condoms can not cover all areas that might be contagious.

Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies-How Are Genital Warts Treated

Right now, there is not a cure that can get rid of the HPV virus completely. But genital warts treatments can reduce the number of warts or help them go away faster. Even when the warts disappear, the HPV virus is still there, though it may not spread as easily. Plus, if you are treated and re-infected, you can get genital warts all over again.

NOTE: If you are sexually active, think you might have contracted genital warts, or if you have had a partner who might have genital warts, you need to see your doctor or gynecologist right a way. The longer that you wait to treat genital warts, the longer and harder it will be to get rid of the warts…

Your doctor can do an examination, make a diagnosis, and then provide treatment. A number of different treatments might be used depending on where the warts are located, how big they are, and how many there are. Your doctor might put special medications on the warts, or remove them with treatments like laser therapy or chemical “freezing.”

There are natural ways of treating genital warts with out pain, scarring or doctors appointments and that is by applying an all natural genital warts treatment. All natural treatments are taken topically.

Sometimes warts can come back, so you might need to treat your genital warts again.. Anyone with whom you’ve had sex also should be notifies and checked for genital warts.

Not all bumps on a person’s genitals are warts. Some can be pimples, some can be other types of infections, rashes, growths or some other type of STD. So, when in doubt, visit your doctor for help and they can help determine what that bumps are and what you can do about treatment for genital warts.

We hope that “Genital Warts Symptoms For Dummies,” was informative and helpful. If you need more information on genital warts, their cures, treatments and remedies, please go to our HOME PAGE for more information and answers to your genital warts problems.