Dear Doctor,

What is genital warts? What causes it and is it curable?

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Genital warts is caused by infection due to human papilloma virus(HPV). It manifests in form of small, dark, fleshy firm or  hard painless growths. It may be single or multiple and clustered like small flowers of a cauliflower.

There are about 16 strains of HPV causing genital warts. They mostly occur on genitals, anus or lower part of uterus and or thighs. The infection is acquired and transmitted sexually, by having sex with an infected partner. In case of oral sex, one can have warts inside the mouth or tongue.

The risk of having genital warts increases with having sex with multiple partners, having sex with a partner whose health status is not known, having sex from an early age with multiple partners. Presence of another viral infection like HIV increases risk of having genital warts. Those with low immunity, diabetes, renal failure, are also at increased risk.

As such, warts is harmless. It may appear and disappear spontaneously, but the infection remains in blood. Depending on its location, sometimes it can cause painful urination or defecation and a sense of heaviness with pain in the lower abdomen. In pregnancy, labour may be difficult due to presence of warts. A baby born to an infected mother risks having laryngeal tumors( tumor in sound box). Some genital warts carry the risk of turning malignant and cause cancer of the cervix or genital parts.

Diagnosis of warts is made by its typical appearance. The presence of the virus is confirmed by microscopic examination of a swab taken from the affected part.

If the wart is small, with no problem, it can be ignored. But if the warts is widespread or recurrent, one can apply ointments which burn them. While applying this ointment, one should keep the surrounding skin covered with a soft tissue or cloth to avoid a burn. If this fails, they can be removed by cryo therapy, cauterization, electrolysis, surgical excision or laser therapy.

Safe sex is the best bid for prevention of genital warts. These days vaccines for protecting people against HPV are available.