Genital Warts

Phyathai Phaholyothin

3 Min

Th 11/01/2024

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Genital Warts

Genital warts are more frequently encountered in women than in men, and if any person is infected with genital warts, 25-65% of their sexual partners will also develop this infection. Genital warts are caused by the HPV virus, which exists in many strains. They are classified in to high-risk strains that are linked to cervical cancer such as strains 16 and 18, etc., and low-risk strains that are not linked to cancer such as strains 6 and 11, etc. However, genital warts do not cause cervical cancer. By the nature of HPV infections, infection from many strains can happen at the same time, and if a person is infected with a high-risk strain, their risk of developing cervical cancer increases.

 

 

Most infections are asymptomatic because the body can eliminate the infection by itself, except in people with a weakened immune system. Nevertheless, even asymptomatic people can spread infection to other people. This can be observed when married couples go see the doctor and it is discovered that the female party has genital warts but the male has no genital warts. This is not a surprising occurrence.

 

 

Genital warts incubate for about 3 weeks to 8 months, and this virus will disrupt the cell division in the lowest level of the dermal tissues, thus causing cells to divide with a different appearance and function in an uncontrollable manner, thus producing warts.

 

 

Genital warts appear like pink or white fleshy nodules with a rough surface similar to cock’s comb or cauliflower. Mostly, it happens around the vaginal opening, followed by the clitoral hood, anus, vaginal walls and cervix. In some cases, there is bleeding in these abnormal growths, along with irritation, abnormal white discharges and burning in the genital region. The genital warts can expand when triggered by heat and moisture.

 

 

Early Stage Diagnosis

  • If the growths are pink in color and grow outward similar to a cock’s comb or cauliflower, in males, they often occur on the inner side of the foreskin, while homosexual men develop them around their anuses, and women develop them around their vaginal openings.
  • Flat warts are found on the cervix. They appear flat and are mostly caused by HPV 16, which is a cause of cervical cancer.
  • There are also blister-like warts that are about 3-4 millimeters in size with red, purple or black color with a slightly smooth or rough texture.
  • Large warts develop rapidly until they grow big enough to cover the entire genital region.

 

Currently, there are many ways to treat genital warts, including medications, surgery, cryosurgery, electrical thermal surgery and laser surgery. The treatment options produce similar results, but there is risk of recurrence. Generally, smaller warts are easier to manage, and if the size is smaller than 1 square centimeter, the doctor will prescribe a drug for the patient and find that the patient’s symptoms improve. However, up to 70% of people who have had genital warts experience recurrent symptoms within 6 months after seeking medical attention for the first time, and the cause of recurrence is reinfection from a sexual partner.


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