Genital Warts (Condyloma)

Facts About Genital Warts

  • Genital warts (condyloma) is a sexsygdom,
    • caused by human papilloma virus (HPV)
  • 70-80% of sexually active people will eventually be infected with HPV
  • It is infection with HPV, even if you have no genital warts
  • Condoms prevent to some extent genital warts (where condom covers)
  • HPV vaccination protects against the development of genital warts and the best:
    • if administered before sexual debut
    • or at a low number of lifetime sexual partners
  • The vaccine is not included in the childhood immunization program
  • Treatment of genital warts is often long-lasting and are divided into:
    • home care (creams that inhibit the growth of wart)
    • clinic-based treatments (eg, freezing and laser)

What is genital warts (warts)?

Genital warts are pedunculated or cauliflower-like warts, which are located at the area around the vulva or anus.

Genital warts can also be found in the rectum, the urethra, vagina or cervix.

In men, genital warts commonly seen on the foreskin and penile shaft and in women on the outer labia. In rare cases, genital warts seen on the lip, tongue or oral mucosa.

How common are genital warts?

Genital warts are a frequent infection. About 1% of sexually active men and women aged 18-49 years have visible genital warts and about 10% will at some point in their lives get genital warts.

70-80% of sexually active people will at some point in life can be infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), the vast majority, however, develop no genital warts.

What causes genital warts?

The condition caused by an infection of the skin with a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV).

HPV stimulates the skin surface cells to divide, and thus occur as thickenings warts of the skin. The time from the virus infects the symptoms appear, often between 1-6 months, but it may also be longer.

HPV is transmitted by sexual contact. 70% of the partners of persons with genital warts also have genital warts.

Genital warts in the rectum can occur after anal sex, but can also occur without the case.

Inner genital warts can be detected by gynecological examination or by anoskopi, a study in which to conduct a small rigid tube (microscope) in to see the lining of the rectum. Also cell sample from the cervix ( “smear”) can detect infection with HPV.

What are the symptoms of genital warts?

Visible genital warts, usually without other symptoms also. Genital warts can be completely smooth surface or cauliflower-shaped, there may be few or many, they can also be stalked. Genital warts can annoy if they are large.

What symptoms should pay particular attention to?

Newcomers warts or bumps on the genitalia or around the anus.

How is it diagnosed?

Genital warts is a clinical diagnosis, ie the doctor can make the diagnosis just by looking at the warts.

If in doubt, it may be necessary to take a biopsy (tissue sample) to make the diagnosis.

What treatment is there?

The disease may to some extent be prevented by using a condom during intercourse. But the virus transmitted by close skin-to-skin contact and can also infect outside the condom protection. Viruses can also infect the fingers to the genital region.

In medical treatment is used so-called podophyllotoxin. This agent inhibits cell division of the skin cells, and by using this GWs will subsequently shrink.

One can even brushing the fabric on GWs morning and evening for 3 days. Then you pause for 4 days, and then if necessary repeat the treatment.

Pregnant women should not use podophyllotoxin.

There is also a cream (containing the substance imiquimod) acting on the genital warts.

The cream is applied to the three times each week in the evening at bedtime. The composition may weaken the condom and pessary, and sexual contact is not recommended, whereas the cream on the skin.

The cream was washed off after 6-10 hours. You can repeat the treatment for up to 4 months.

There are also an ointment extracted from green tea, to be applied to the nipples 3 times a day for up to 16 weeks.

Great genital warts and genital warts that are difficult to treat, the doctor may either freeze, cut or burn away.

All treatments give side effects such as skin irritation and easy wounding. Helps a given treatment not be switched to one of the other treatments. No matter what treatment you choose, after shrinkage of genital warts is a great risk that they come back for weeks and months.

How is long-term prospects?

Genital warts will have great tendency to disappear, but it may take several years.

The effect of the treatments are varied, and no treatment, other treatments superior.

Regardless of which treatment is chosen, there will be a high risk of relapse. This is because the areas near the genital warts are often co-infected with HPV and therefore may give rise to new genital warts.

How do I avoid or worsen genital warts?

Condoms protect to some degree against getting genital warts.

The HPV vaccine is included in the childhood immunization program, does not protect against genital warts.

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