Genital Warts

In total, there are over 200 known strains of the virus and some are potentially carcinogenic, mainly the following: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 51, 52, 56, 58. However, 90% of genital warts are caused by the strains 6 and 11 (not carcinogenic).

The disease is transmitted by an infected person (with or without clinically visible lesions) through sexual contact. The transmission is rare through other ways (via shared objects (e.g. towels). The immunosuppressed individuals are more susceptible to the virus and each individual’s resistance depends on its immune system. In some people, the virus multiplies rapidly and relapses frequently, while in others it is easily treated without relapses.

Genital warts affect the skin and mucous membranes mainly the genitals, perineum and perianal area (in women and homosexuals) and less commonly the oral mucosa and tongue. In men, it is common to be located in the posterior groove and can also affect the urethral opening or the urethra internally. In women, the areas that maybe affected by the genital warts are the labia minora and labia majora, the entrance of the vagina as well as the cervix.

They can look like small, flesh-colored bumps or have a cauliflower-like appearance. Their size varies from a few millimeters up to 1-2 cm (rarely).

The use of condom provides partial protection from genital warts (it protects only the covered areas). The infected person can transmit the virus during the incubation period. Moreover, asymptomatic carriage can also transmit the disease even after treatment.

The treatment of genital warts consists in the destruction of the infected cells, with methods such as cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, electrocautery, the use of laser or the topical use of chemical agents such as imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil, podophyllin and podophyllotoxin. If a woman is infected by genital warts, we have to check the cervix. It should be emphasized that no method ensures the elimination of the disease and its relapses.

There are some vaccines that have been available in recent years. These are administered to women 12-26 years of age for free. Their administration of vaccines is also recommended in young women over 26 as well as boys over 12 years, too. The use of vaccines for oncogenic strains of the virus in girls before they start their sexual life gives hope for the elimination of cervical cancer.

Until then, Pap Test is the annual preventive examination that is life-saving and mandatory as the oncogenic strains of the virus have many years of action and cause malformations (dysplasias) and cervical cancer. Oncogenic strains can also cause cancer in men, but in contrast to cervical cancer, it is detected earlier.

It is also useful to check for other sexually transmitted diseases (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis) which often do not have symptoms.