by Answerbag Staff on October 20th, 2009
Genital warts are caused by a virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 million Americans have HPV, and more than 2 million more become infected every year.
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease spread through contact with the genitals during oral, vaginal or anal intercourse. The CDC estimates that roughly two-thirds of people who have intercourse with a HPV-infected partner contract the virus.
Genital warts are usually small, hard flesh-colored or gray lumps that appear individually or in large groups that resemble a cauliflower shape. Warts can be itchy and may bleed during sexual intercourse.
Up to 30 percent of genital warts outbreaks go away without any treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic. When treatment is needed or desired, options include prescription medication like Aldara or Condylox, freezing or cryotherapy, removal with electrical current or electrocautery, or surgery performed with lasers or an incision.
Using a condom during all types of intercourse greatly reduces your risk of contracting HPV and developing genital warts. For women, the Gardasil vaccine prevents two strains of HPV that are responsible for 90 percent of genital wart infections, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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