HPV: Help Prevent the Virus
The dangers of genital warts
Overview
Genital warts or HPV (Human papillomavirus) is the most common virus in the United States. It's estimated that around 360,000 Americans get genital warts each year. The first signs of a wart become visible within 30-90 days of getting the virus, however, you may not see any visible warts but still have the virus. You may see a reddish spot or area on your penis or on the inside of your vagina. It isn't painful but, woman who get genital warts are at a higher risk of cervical cancer.
Warts
A picture of genital warts.
The process
This shows how warts grow and what they do when they start growing.
More warts
This shows how warts form on your skin
Diagnosis and treatment
The bad news
If you think you have genital warts the doctor has to run some tests to see if it is genital warts or not. The doctor may take a piece of the wart and run some tests, or they may apply a vinegar solution and see how the area reacts. The bad news about genital warts is that there is no cure! However, there are ways to get rid of the warts. Some treatments freeze them off, laser removal, or even acid solutions. There are some creams or ointments to get rid of the warts, but the wart will most likely grow back over time.
Other facts
There are over 40 different types of HPV that can infect makes and females. Pregnant woman can give their child genital warts. When genital warts grow in a persons throat it is called RRP (Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis). There are vaccines for males and females to prevent HPV.