How to Recognize, Treat, and Prevent Genital Warts in Men and Women

Genital warts should be identified and treated differently than your average wart. The warts are flesh colored to grey and are found in the genital area in both men and women. Genital warts are a virus that is started by a sexual transmitted disease. Genital warts are by far the most common STD people get today. They are caused by the virus named papillomavirus. Often times genital wart infections are not too obvious but are very discrete. There are really no known cures for the virus but you can still do many things to treat and prevent the warts. It is especially important for women to treat these as it can eventually cause cervical cancer. The warts can occur at any age, but most cases happen between the ages of 17-33. The virus is extremely contagious; you have about a 60% chance of getting the disease when in contact with someone carrying it even if you only have 1 contact. In children under than three years old, warts are thought to be spread not by sexual contact but by direct contact to the area. If you do find genital warts on your children it may be a sign of sexual abuse.

More than 75 different strains of genital warts have been discovered and identified so far. The virus papillomavirus is at the center of them all. 90% of the virus is caused by 2 specific types and are not likely to carry cancer as a potential. The other 10% are uncommon but can eventually lead to cancer. This type of transmission is the cause of about 50% of women who receive cervical cancer. It is important to know that common warts are not STD's; they are an entirely different skin condition. After being sexual intimate with someone who has the virus it could take many months for the warts to appear on your skin. The warts can be associated with the use of birth control pills due to increased sexual contact without the use of protection, having sex at a young age, and having multiple partners.