What Are The Consequences of Genital Warts

Though sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are often in the news, you don't hear much about genital warts. Many people have no idea that this condition is an STD and can have serious consequences if left untreated.

Signs and Symptoms of Genital Warts

Most people who contract genital warts have no symptoms. Signs and symptoms of genital warts may appear within a few weeks of exposure, a few months or not at all. The genital warts will appear as soft lumps of flesh that are on or near the genitals and anus. You may not even see that you have genital warts as they can be hidden in the anus or vagina. Consequences of genital warts can be serious if you are not aware you have this disease.

Though you can receive treatment for this condition, the virus that causes genital warts, HPV may not. It has been shown that more than 50% of women will spontaneously recover from HPV and all symptoms can disappear within two years of infection.

How are Genital Warts Transmitted?

The spread of genital warts is by vaginal sex or anal sex. It can be transmitted from oral sex but it is rare. You can also get genital warts from having contact with a person who is infected warts. In rare cases, consequences of genital warts can be a mother with the disease passing it on to her newborn child. It should be noted that consequences of genital warts can be that you can transmit the disease to someone else even if no warts are visible. The virus is present and wearing a condom can protect both men and women from the consequences of genital warts.

Complication and Consequences of Genital Warts

If you let genital warts go untreated you can spread the virus that causes the disease to other sex partners which results in them passing along genital warts. This is a very serious consequence of genital warts.

Some strains of the virus that can cause genital warts can make a Pap test come back abnormal and can put many women at a higher risk for developing cervical cancer. Consequences of genital warts in men can leader to an increased risk for penile cancer. It is said that these particular strains don't cause any warts that are visible.

How You can Prevent Consequences of Genital Warts

There is a vaccine that is now available to females between the ages of 9 and 26 that can help to protect them from the consequences of genital warts as well as protect against the 4 kinds of HPV that are the cause of many cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.

Using a condom whenever you have sexual intercourse is another way you ensure you don't have to deal with the consequences of genital warts. Using a latex condom will offer you the best protection against the consequences of genital warts.