Causes of Genital Warts

If there are flesh-colored or gray lumps in or around the genitals, then it is probably a case of genital warts. But there is no need to panic yet, take comfort in the fact that it is a surprisingly common condition and many excellent treatment options are available today. What are the causes of genital warts and where does it affect the individual?

Genital warts, as the name suggests, are found in the genital and anal regions of both men and women. Although they are generally painless in nature, they may be bothersome and can lead to a good deal of embarrassment due to their location of occurrence, their size, or due to the itching that they induce.

Genital warts are among the most common sexually transmitted diseases to affect both men and women and can occur at any age. However still, it has been seen that those in between the years of 17 and 33 are most prone to an attack. But it can be seen in younger children as well – as small as 3 years of age. What causes genital warts in such small children? It can be manual contact and even molestation.

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV actually constitutes a large family comprising many types of which medical sciences have been able to identify over 100 variants. Of these, about 40 types have the power to infect the genital area and lead to conditions that cause the genital warts swellings to appear.

In most cases (approximately 90%), genital warts are caused by two variants of the HPV. And they are 6 and 11. Fortunately, these HPV infections are considered to carry relatively low risk. They seldom lead to more serious conditions such as cancer, but the risk still remains. However, there are other HPV types that pose higher risks and they are believed to be closely linked to pre-malignant changes and even cancers of the cervix in women.

Be careful – because it is easy to get confused between common warts and genital warts. They are not the same thing and are caused by different strains of the HPV. This makes < href=http://www.amoils.com/warts.html>treating warts more difficult.

In a typical case of genital wart infection, the viral bodies penetrate the skin and mucosal surfaces during sex through microscopic pores and abrasions that are to be found in and around the genital area. It is interesting to note that the effects of the invasion may not be apparent at first as HPV attacks are sometimes followed by long periods of latency, ranging from a few months to years. The outbreak can occur when it is least suspected. Usually, 2 out of every 3 people indulging in sex with a partner who has genital warts contract them within 8 – 12 weeks. And that is the most common cause of genital warts.

Genital warts are highly contagious. So it is highly recommended to maintain caution. In fact, there is a 60% risk of getting infected in a single sexual contact with someone with the condition. Using a condom and not indulging in oral or anal sex is a good idea.