Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world.
They look like small flesh-colored bumps or growths. It is estimated that almost every sexually active person will get infected with at least one strain of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV),
which is the entity that causes genital warts.
It is important to note that there are over one hundred HPV strains, and while some are the cause of genital warts, others increase the risk of various malignancies like cervical, penile, and anal cancer.
Genial warts in women can grow in the vulva, vaginal wall, and cervix. In men, they can appear in the glans, shaft of the penis, or scrotum. Additionally, they can develop in the perineum, anal canal, and even in the mouth or throat of people who perform oral sex on someone infected with the virus.
It is key to differentiate pearly papules from genital warts. Pearly papules are a normal anatomical variant that looks like small, shiny bumps that are uniform in shape and grow in the base of the glans penis. While genital warts are irregular-shaped bumps that grow in clusters, they are not limited to appearing in the head of the penis.
As previously stated, there are multiple strains of HPV, and not all of them develop into
macroscopic lesions; therefore, the fact that someone has no genital warts does not mean they are not infected with the virus. This is why the use of condoms is essential to decrease the risk of infection.
The CDC and the FDA recommend that people as young as 9 years old up to 45 years old get the HPV vaccine. This vaccine offers protection against the most common strains that
cause genital warts and cancer.
There is no cure for the human papillomavirus. Once you get infected, you can spread the virus to other people through skin-to-skin sexual contact, even if you don't have visible warts.
Nevertheless, warts can disappear on their own or be removed by a specialist with surgical excision, electrocautery, freezing, topical solutions, or creams and lasers.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20355234
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4209-genital-warts
