Venereal warts are STDs that is contracted through sexual contact. The disease, which is also referred to as venereal warts is caused by the HPV virus. The (HPV) causes small gray or flesh colored growths around the genital and anal area. It is not always obvious to detect a person that has been affected by venereal warts. The disease is very contagious and can occur in both men and women of any age. There is a 60% risk of infection from just one sexual contact with an infected person. The highest concentration of patients with genital warts is aged between 17 and 33 years. About 20% of those infected with this disease will also suffer from other STDs.
Symptoms
Warts caused by this disease usually measure between about a little less than 1mm to several sq. centimeters especially when grouped together. Patients with venereal warts are known to complain of itching, discharge and painless bumps. The location of the venereal warts would usually cause the patient some irritation and itching. In some rare cases, the warts may result to bleeding or obstruction of the flow of urine if the wart is located at the urethral opening.
Genital Warts Treatment
Although there are some medical treatments for warts, there is no known specific effective cure for venereal warts. There exist a number of genital warts treatment options that can be considered. None of these treatment options can guarantee complete removal or absolute prevention from reoccurring. In about less than 20% of affected patients, genital warts may fade away without treatment in about three or four months. Here is a brief description of possible genital warts treatments.
Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is an excellent method of treatment, because the rate of response if usually high and it has just a few side effects. The process involves freezing the warts with a cryoprobe or liquid nitrogen.
Laser treatment: Laser treatment is usually used for severe or reoccurring venereal warts. The process involves destroying the HPV induced warts with a laser. The treatment will usually require a form of anesthesia such as local, general of regional anesthesia. Drawbacks of treating with laser include longer healing time, scarring, high cost, and release of infectious particles into the air.
Electrodessication: Electrodessication is a treatment method that destroys genital warts with an electric current. It can be performed with a local anesthesia. The smoke resulting from the process could be infectious.
Natural extracts: There are also some genital warts treatment methods that make use of natural extracts. The extracts, which are taken from a combination of natural leaves, roots and fruits are said to cure genital warts.
Genital Warts Medication
Apart from the various treatment methods outlined above, there are some other medications that can sometimes also be used as alternative forms of treatment. They include Pod-Ben-25, Podofin, 5-Fluorouracil (Efudex) and many others. Do not use any of these medications without first talking with a specialist, because many of them come with side effects. Some of them are only used when warts have not responded to any other form of genital warts treatment.
Useful Genital Warts Treatment Tips
It is very important to identify genital warts so as to avoid doing things that can aggravate the condition. Avoid trauma or anything to the area that could lead to bleeding. Warts are very contagious, so you should try not to touch them or you will be helping it to spread. Picking or squeezing the genital warts should also be avoided. Avoid getting into contact with others to prevent transmission. It is also not advisable to try to treat the warts at home by yourself. It is best to go see a doctor to discuss possible genital warts treatment options as soon as you notice them. Some patients shy away from seeing a doctor or seeking treatment because of the region of infection and embarrassment. Leaving venereal warts untreated for a long time will only aggravate the situation.
