Genital warts are growths on the glans penis (head of the penis) and the mucous membranes (epithelium) that line the vagina, cervix, rectum or urethra.
They are not only ugly; they can also be painful, especially when the skin breaks and urine or shower water seeps in.
Also called Condyloma acuminata, these warts are a lot more serious than warts found in other parts of the body, although some clusters of tiny warts around the mouth may be caused by similar microorganisms.
Causes More than 30 types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) cause genital warts, but Types 16 and 18 are known to cause cervical, rectal and penile cancer.
While there is now a vaccine for the cancer-causing types, it only works for women.
As for the rest of the more than 100 HPV types, you can only avoid them totally if you lead a celibate life.
These warts grow over a period of time after an individual acquires the HPV through sex (oral, anal or vaginal).
It usually takes a month for the warts to develop.
The virus is carried by body fluids, like semen, vaginal discharges and saliva.
Thus, even kissing can be dangerous.
Symptoms In most cases, these warts spread in large masses on the genital regions, anus (through anal ex) and mouth (through oral sex).
Among a few infected people, these warts just disappear, but in most cases, they develop into bigger clusters resembling cauliflowers.
These warts are itchy, so you will most likely be feeling severe discomfort or, worse, some burning and tingling sensations during its outbreak.
They can also cause abnormal vaginal bleeding during sexual intercourse, followed by difficulty in urinating.
Effective treatments Before looking for treatment options, it's best that you get a genitor-urinary medicine specialist's diagnosis first.
If it's genital warts, bear in mind that HPV stays in your body even if you've gotten rid of the warts.
So you might want to pay close attention to what your doctor tells you.
You may try homeopathic remedies, which boosts the body's ability to deal with your ailment.
Wartrol, which comes in ointment form applied under the tongue, has been proven effective by most sufferers.
Podofilox gel or lotion and Podophylllin resin can also 'burn' wart tissues, gradually reducing their size and number.
These are proven effective among 45 to 88 percent of patients.
The quickest method of getting rid of the warts is through surgery.
Cryosurgery involves the controlled use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart tissues, so they become easy to remove.
Cauterization using laser or electrosurgical tools is another minor surgical procedure that works instantly.
Remember, however, that you're only dealing with the symptoms, not the virus itself.
So there's a great probability that the warts would recur.
Avoiding alcohol and stressful situations may help prevent its recurrence but it's no guarantee.