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Genital
Warts (HPV)
Basic facts:
- Genital warts are an STI
caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is passed between
people by contact with a wart or skin in and around the genitals of
the infected person.
- HPV infection and genital
warts are very common among sexually active people.
- Many people with HPV do
not have genital warts.
Symptoms:
- Warts or bumps on the genitals,
anus, or surrounding areas.
Complications:
- In pregnant women, hormonal
changes can cause the warts to grow in size or number, bleed, or make
delivery difficult. The warts will shrink on their own after delivery.
- A baby can become infected
during pregnancy or delivery and develop warts on the genitals or anus,
or in the throat.
Prevention of transmission to others:
- Although genital warts
can be removed, HPV can stay in the body after removal. If this is the
case, the warts can come back and HPV can still be transmitted to others.
- An infected client should
avoid sexual contact throughout the course of treatment and should inform
all sexual partners about the infection (if possible) and encourage
them to come to the clinic for more information—even if a partner
does not have any symptoms. If abstinence is not possible, the client
should use a male or female condom during anal, oral, or vaginal sex.
Some types of HPV cause
abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix, which, if left untreated,
can lead to cervical cancer. The types of HPV that cause genital warts
are different from those types that cause cervical
cancer.
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