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| Genital Warts |
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| Genital warts which appear several months or more after
exposure are skin-colored, cauliflower-shaped eruptions and are sometimes
accompanied by itching and irritation. |
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| Symptoms |
| When symptoms are present, they are small, visible
warts appearing at the tip of the penis or at the opening of the vagina. Warts
can occur anywhere on the column of the penis, in the urethra, or the testicles
of the male, and inside the vagina of the woman. They can also occur on the
rectum. |
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| Treatment |
| The warts are treatable. The doctors can use a solution
called Podophllin solution, trichloracetic acid, and fluorouracil cream. These
are used to burn the warts off the skin. Liquid nitrogen or lasers are used
sometimes. A six-month check up is necessary to confirm that all of the warts
are destroyed. |
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| Transmission |
| The most common form of transmission is through sexual
intercourse. Warts are very contagious even in people who show no
symptoms. |
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| Testing |
| Usually the physician can tell just by looking at the
infected area whether or not you have genital warts. The doctor can also pour a
diluted vinegar solution on the warts and they will turn white, which lets him
know that they are present. If it is not clear than he may use a diagnostic
procedure called colposcopy, which is a magnifying procedure. Also when you
have an abnormal pap smear, it may indicate that you have genital
warts. |
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