Causes and Risk Factors for Genital Warts

Few people realize that genital warts is actually a symptom of a virus. Known as the human papilloma virus, many people around the world have had some type of the virus. There are over 100 different kinds of the virus that can cause warts to appear on various parts of the body. The warts may be spread through many different methods, and genital warts may be spread easier than you may think. In this article, we'll discuss how you can become afflicted with genital warts and who faces the highest levels of risk.

Those who are at the highest levels of risk for developing the type of human papilloma virus that is responsible for genital warts include those who are faced with a compromised immune system. Those who use immune system-depressing drugs may be more at risk, and those who have poor levels of nutrition and/or hygiene are known to be the most susceptible. Those with another type of sexually transmitted disease are also more likely to become afflicted with genital warts.

While genital warts are most often spread through the act of performing unprotected sex often, even those who use condoms may be at risk for developing the disease. The reason for this is that the human papilloma virus rests in the skin, and there are some parts of the body that are not covered by a condom when having intercourse that may rub up against the other partner's skin. Due to that, using a condom does not completely confirm that you will not develop genital warts should your partner have them. Consequently, not everyone who has unprotected sex with someone that has genital warts is going to actually contract the disease themselves; as a matter of fact, only two out of every three people who have unprotected sex with someone with genital warts will come down with the disease. One terrible aspect of genital warts is the fact that it doesn't necessarily matter when you performed the unprotected sex when it comes to when the symptoms start to show up. You may notice the warts growing within a month; in other cases, however, the disease may not begin to show itself for years.

There has been a recent development in genital warts that may prove to provide some type of help when it comes to decreasing one's risk for getting the disease. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America has recently approved the use of a vaccine which promises to provide protection against the disease, and many are considering the idea of giving the vaccine to girls between the ages of 11 and 12 to help them to avoid exposure to the disease, which can cause the most trouble in women. This is due to the fact that genital warts may cause growth abnormalities of the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer.

To keep your risk for developing the disease to a minimum, you need to ensure that you are employing the safest sexual practices that you can. Keep healthy and clean, and if you notice the presence of genital warts on a sexual partner, ensure that they get them treated before resuming sexual activity.

Genital warts news on the Web

Editorial: Shared responsibility a must in sexual relationships - University Daily Kansan

India Talkies

Editorial: Shared responsibility a must in sexual relationships
University Daily Kansan
Although symptoms can be minimal, men are still at risk for getting genital warts, penile cancer, anal cancer and cancer of the throat. ...
HPV vaccines decreased the risk for variety of HPV–related diseasesHemOncToday
HPV vaccines may reduce a wide range of genital diseasesScientist Live
Is the HPV vaccine worthwhile?United Press International, Asia

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HPV Vaccine Shows Promising Results in Genital Diseases in Young Women - HealthNewsDigest.com

HealthNewsDigest.com

HPV Vaccine Shows Promising Results in Genital Diseases in Young Women
HealthNewsDigest.com
Although most infections will clear up without intervention, some infections with low-risk HPV (types 6 and 11) can cause genital warts and abnormal ...
HPV Vaccines May Reduce a Wide Range of Genital DiseasesScience Daily (press release)

all 18 news articles »

The ABCs of STDs - Bi-College News

The ABCs of STDs
Bi-College News
As for other long-term consequences, there is a strong link between contracting HPV (the virus that causes genital warts) and developing cervical cancer. ...
Sexual Health Week drives home importance of responsible sexUNR The Nevada Sagebrush (registration) (blog)

all 6 news articles »

HPV vaccine recommended for men - University Daily Kansan

HPV vaccine recommended for men
University Daily Kansan
“For some people, genital warts can be a huge burden. Sometimes they're fairly prominent, can be pretty frustrating and hard to get rid of, ...
What Every Woman Should KnowGwinnett Citizen

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Spot the genital warts challenge - CANOE

CANOE

Spot the genital warts challenge
CANOE
How well do you know genital warts? Would you be able to tell if your partner had genital warts? How do genital warts differ from other spots, bumps, ...

College STD rates startling - Flyer News

TopNews New Zealand

College STD rates startling
Flyer News
"The types that tend to cause warts are different than the types that cause cancer. HPV types six and 11 cause 90 percent of genital warts, types 16 and 18 ...
Merck tries again for Gardasil expansionFiercePharma
Cervical Cancer Awareness month under wayEdwardsville Intelligencer
January is National Cervical Health Awareness MonthStandardNet
Daily Finance -Wall Street Journal -Killeen Daily Herald
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Preventing Human Papilloma virus, HPV - East Texas Review

dBTechno

Preventing Human Papilloma virus, HPV
East Texas Review
Other types of HPV cause genital warts in men and women. These warts are not a serious medical problem, but cause emotional distress and require painful ...
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness MonthExaminer.com
Girls must get three cancer vaccine doses, says expertIrish Times
Harney would consider HPV vaccine for boysIrish Medical Times
Muskogee Daily Phoenix -Tampa Bay Newspapers -Hollister Free Lance
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Cervical Cancer: A Preventable Disease - Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)

PR Web (press release)

Cervical Cancer: A Preventable Disease
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
There a number of types of HPV virus in nature; some of these cause a condition called genital warts (in which wart-like growths occur on the genitals) ...
HPV shot has health benefits for men, tooOregon Daily Emerald
House Call with Dr. Andy: Young men get HPV vaccineThe News-Press
UA Center, Institute Offering HPV Education ForumUA News (press release)
Charlevoix Courier -Sunderland Echo -Vancouver Sun
all 67 news articles »

Complacent middle-aged women match teenagers for unplanned pregnancy - Times Online

Complacent middle-aged women match teenagers for unplanned pregnancy
Times Online
Genital warts was the most common diagnosis but the sharpest increases were seen for gonorrhea and syphilis. The assumption has long been that the sexually ...

and more »

Should boys be vaccinated against HPV? - Boston Globe

Should boys be vaccinated against HPV?
Boston Globe
It can also lead to rarer cancers and genital warts. Two HPV vaccines are licensed by the FDA, Cervarix and Gardasil, and vaccination is recommended for 11- ...
HPV holiday catch-up clinics running at BayfairNew Zealand Doctor Online
H1N1 added to new immunization schedulesAmerican Medical News
Vaccine made available at mallThe Bay of Plenty Times

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