Hormonal Changes and Pregnancy Complicate Genital Warts in Women
Women have enough health issues to think about without adding genital warts into the mix. However, genital warts in women do complicate matters for thousands and thousands of females each year. Throughout life, females go through a lot more hormonal and structural changes than the males do like menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
Hormonal changes and pregnancy often complicate genital warts in women and therefore require close medical attention to treat outbreaks. While many women with genital warts have uncomplicated pregnancies and childbirth, there are that many more women who do.
Detecting Genital Warts in Women
Because women are more in tune with their bodies, it may be easier for them to recognize even the minutest changes to their genital area. These warts start as little flesh or red colored bumps usually clustered together in the moister areas of the genitals. Rough patches of skin may also creep up as well and are often genital warts as well.
Genital warts in women will likely be detected quite easily when they crop up in the vagina, near the urethra or even on the lips of the vulva. These are sensitive areas and because the whole genital environment of women is more fragile, they are most likely the ones to seek treatment first. It is the genital warts in women that appear in the cervix that are not likely to be detected, unless by a physician. These are mostly diagnosed by a doctor conducting a pelvic exam or Pap smear.
Taking Care of Genital Warts in Women who are Pregnant
Genital warts in women do not preclude them from becoming pregnant or giving birth, although it does complicate matters. During pregnancy, thanks to hormonal changes, genital warts in women can become larger and could cause urinary obstructions. In some cases, the genital warts could obstruct the birth canal precipitating a caesarean section.
Pregnancy or major hormonal changes can cause even more warts to crop up, precipitating the need for immediate treatment. It is important for pregnant ladies to communicate with their doctors up front about their genital warts so appropriate treatment measures can be followed to ensure that their babies do not develop HPV during childbirth.
There are not a lot of studies that show whether or not the topical treatments for genital warts in women could be absorbed into the blood stream and affect a fetus. Therefore, likely treatment may be cryotherapy or even electrocautery, two of several more physical means of wart removal.
All in all, genital warts in women mean that more precautions must be taken to prevent additional outbreaks and even the spreading of HPV to their babies. However, with proper due diligence and proactive measures, many women can enjoy relatively uncomplicated pregnancies and childbirth, warts and all.