Genital warts can be a nightmare...

If you find out that you have genital warts then you must get them treated

Genital warts, or condyloma, are a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by human papilloma virus.

Genital warts can show up on the outside of the genitals or on the inside such as the cervix in a woman.

These types of warts are not the same as common warts and can easily be passed from person to person.

Genital warts can affect men and women alike. There are some people that think women get genital warts easier than men and there are some that think the opposite. From what we understand, everyone is at the same level of risk to contract this type of wart. Do not let yourself be the next diagnosed victim.

How they spread

Genital warts spread by skin to skin contact and this happens usually during unprotected sex. The thing to remember is that not everyone that has the wart virus has outwardly visible warts. Be careful when it comes to your body because the wart virus is extremely common among sexually active adults.

Not everyone will get visible genital warts so that is not the only way that they can be detected. There are tests that a doctor can perform to tell you if you have the virus. If you do have outward warts they can take the shape of small or large warts that can be bumpy or even flat. If you think that you have genital warts then consult a physician.

How serious are they and what about prevention

For the vast majority of the people that have genital warts they are just an embarrassing and uncomfortable hassle however they can be serious for some folks. Women that have genital warts on their cervix can have abnormal results for some of their regular tests and may lead to cancer. It is recommended that women that have genital warts on their cervix should have a pap smear every six months. Women that have anal warts should have their pelvic exam every year. We are not doctors so just double check this with your doctor.

Know your partners prior to engaging in any type of sex. When you have sex be sure it is protected sex. The only true way to prevent getting genital warts is to abstain from sex completely as a condom can help to prevent genital warts but not one hundred percent. If you are in a monogamous relationship and want to have unprotected sex, get tested first and make sure both parties are completely faithful. There are no guarantees in life so be careful and know your partner.

Genital warts treatment options should be reviewed