There are more than 60 different human papilloma viruses (HPVs). They cause a variety of warts and other conditions and can remain in the system for life. A few HPVs cause genital warts, but most genital HPV infections are not visible and have no symptoms. Some of these are associated with cancer of the cervix, vulva, or penis. Every year, about 5.5 million Americans are newly infected with genital HPVs — 20 million women and men are now infected. Studies suggest that as many as three-quarters of adults in the United States have been infected with at least one type of HPV virus.
Common symptoms:
- warts on the genitals, in the urethra, in the anus, and, rarely, in the throat
- genital warts are soft to the touch, may look like miniature cauliflower florets,
and often itch
- untreated genital warts can grow to block the openings of the vagina, anus, or throat and become quite uncomfortable.
It usually takes two to three weeks after infection for warts to develop. In women, genital warts grow more rapidly during pregnancy or when other infections are present.
How genital HPVs are spread:
- vaginal and anal intercourse
- very rarely, genital warts spread to the fetus during childbirth.
- oral sex
Diagnosis:
- microscopic examination of tissue sample
- clinical evaluation of warts during a physical or gynecological exam
- special magnifiers — colposcopes — can detect genital HPVs that cannot be seen with the naked eye during pelvic exams
- Pap tests may reveal precancerous conditions caused by genital HPVs — early treatment prevents cancer of the cervix.
Treatment: No cure for HPV. Though they may recur, genital warts can be treated in a number of ways. They may be removed by carefully applying, and often reapplying, a prescription medication — podofilox or imiquimod — to the wart. Clinicians offer other treatments, including:
- application of podophyllin or acid
- standard surgery
- laser surgery (vaporizing the wart with a beam of high-powered light)
- cryosurgery (freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen)
- injection of interferon.
Protection: Condoms may offer some protection against genital HPVs, but the viruses may "shed" beyond the area protected by a condom
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