Can't Get Rid of Genital Warts?
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Genital Warts

What Are Genital Warts and Who Gets Them?

Genital warts often occur around the genital and anal areas of the skin. They’re caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually-transmitted infection. There are over 100 types of HPV, but only a few cause genital warts. People catch genital warts through sex, oral sex or genital-to-genital contact. The virus can be passed to both opposite and same-sex partners. Some people with HPV don’t develop genital warts, but can still spread the virus to others. Since this is a contagious disease, it’s important that those diagnosed with HPV tell partners before sexual contact. 

Approximately 79 million Americans are infected with HPV, with 14 million more becoming infected each year. Most sexually-active people will get at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives, but most won’t know it and can spread the virus without realizing it. Those with a weak immune system may have more trouble fighting the virus. When the body can’t effectively fight HPV, genital warts can develop – perhaps not for weeks, months or longer after sexual contact with an infected person. While rare, a women with genital HPV can pass the virus to her baby during delivery.

For women, genital warts typically appear in the external genitalia and for men, they commonly appear on the penis, scrotum and thighs. Warts can also form inside the vagina, anus, mouth or throat, as well as on the lower abdomen and buttocks. Most of the time, these warts are skin-colored or a bit darker, raised or flat, smooth or rough and varied in size.

The types of HPV that cause genital warts are not the same as the types of HPV that can cause cancers.  But some types of HPV that spread through sexual contact can cause a cancer inside or on the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, throat and mouth. 

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