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GENITAL WARTS (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS, HPV) |
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Warts on the sex organs or bowel opening are caused by HPV (Human papilloma virus).
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How You Catch It:
- Sexual intercourse, anal sex or oral sex or skin contact with infected cells shed
by someone who has the virus.
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When Symptoms Show:
- 1 to 20 months after infection.
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Signs of Infection:
- Wart-like growths on the sex organs around the bowel opening, the urine opening,
or in a woman’ vagina. Sometimes they grow in a person’s throat.
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Problems:
- The warts can grow so big that they block off a woman’s vagina, or the bowel opening,
or the urine opening, or a person’s throat. They are probably one cause of cervical
cancer, or cancer of the anus. Babies can catch the virus from their mother during
birth.
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Tests:
- The warts can be seen. Small flat warts, or those inside a woman’s vagina, can be
seen better when they are treated with weak acid like vinegar.
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Treatment:
- Depending on how big they are, and where they are located, the warts can be taken
off by freezing them, cutting them, or burning them off with a chemical. However,
the person will still have the virus, and the warts may grow back.
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Other:
- Any sex partner should be checked for warts. Even if the warts are gone, you still
have the virus. Always use a condom when you have sex. This lowers
the risk of giving the virus to your partner.
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For more information:
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