Genital warts are growths that appear in the genital area and that can be gray or fleshy- colored. Know the causes, symptoms and treatment of genital warts in women.
Genital warts in women are growths that appear in the genital area and that can be gray or fleshy- colored. They are highly contagious and they are one of the most common STDs. Genital warts are caused by the HPV virus. The types of virus responsible for warts are not cancerous in the great majority of the cases, but they spread very fast. One sexual contact is sometimes enough in order to get the virus. It might take months or even years before the warts become visible after the virus has reached the body. In most of the patients, the incubation period is of three months. Unfortunately, once the HPV virus is contacted, there is no way to get rid of them. There are some treatment options for the genital warts, but they appear again in 50% of the cases. HPV is very likely to become active again during pregnancy. In many women the genital warts don’t appear anymore after they have given birth, but they are dangerous for the newborn and prevent the woman from delivering vaginally.
Warts in women usually occur in the moist areas of their genital organs. They can differ in size for extremely small ones to larger ones, formed by several warts located very close to one another. It is not uncommon for warts to affect multiple areas. They need to be considered an emergency and the women needs to see a doctor if the warts are bleeding or are located in a position that prevents her from urinating. The symptoms of genital warts in women are not very severe. Some women complain of itching and burning, while others might also notice a discharge.
Genital warts are sometimes hard to diagnose and they need to be analyzed by a doctor, using specific substances and procedures, in order to also notice if they had appeared on the cervix or in other areas. A Pap smear is also performed in order to check the condition of the cervix and to make sure that the HPV virus is not cancerous.
Doctors usually prescribe medication for the warts and once the treatment is complete, it is also recommended for the patients to periodically go to the doctor for a Pap smear in order to see if the infection is under control. There are also procedures that eliminate the warts by freezing or electrocuting them. Laser treatment is an option in women that experience recurrent genital warts and surgery is considered when the warts are small and their number is not considerable.
