Genital Warts Research
Genital warts are transmitted by sexual contact and are the result of a virus (HPV) infection. The warts are small flesh colored and shaped like a cauliflower. The warts may appear on the penis, on the anus or on the scrotum in men and on the vulva, vagina, and on the cervix for women. The most dangerous complication for women is cervical cancer. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and exposure is from having oral, vaginal, or anal sex. The genital area is the area that is perfect for the virus to develop because it takes a moist, warm area of the body. The most effective preventative is to have no sex with an infected person. The fact that a person has no outward indications of genital warts does not necessarily mean the person is not infected. This infection may take months or years to develop and it may appear and then disappear. Condoms are protective but are not always effective.
Symptoms usually appear one to six months after exposed to the infection. The earliest symptoms appear as small, moist, red or pink swellings, but they grow rapidly sometimes several develop in the same area. People with an impaired immune system such as people who have AIDS, pregnant women and people with inflammation of the skin will have an extremely rapid development in the growth and proliferation of the warts. A doctor can diagnose genital warts usually by looking at them. Treatment under the doctor's direction provides many options. A dermatologist can remove the warts but they may come back, as there is no cure for the virus, but it may be dormant most of the time. A program of exercise, weight control and proper nutrition, which will build a strong immune system, will be beneficial and may control the condition.
