Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted
disease in the United States and in many other parts
of the world. Genital warts on the penis are caused
by human papillomavirus (HPV) and they are very contagious
and easily spread. There are over one hundred types
of HPV of which some thirty strains are transmitted
primarily through intimate and unprotected sexual
contact whether through vaginal, oral or anal sex
and when the virus is transmitted it often results
in warts of the genitalia.
An infected person may have no genital
warts symptoms of infection but still transmit
the wart virus.
HPV infections are very common in teens and young
adults (the highest rates of warts of the genitalia
are recorded in men between the ages of 20 and 24)
and the more sexual partners someone has, the more
likely they are to contract penis warts, often referred
to as male
genital warts. Unfortunately, there are often
no signs or symptoms
of genital warts and so someone can be infected
and pass on the disease without being aware that they
have done so. The virus does not grow so easily on
the penis. However, some people do get visible genital
warts on the penis.
These warts appear as bumps or growths and can be
flat or have a rough cauliflower-like texture; they
can be flesh-colored, pink or grey-white in color;
they can be single or many; or they can be small or
large. Sometimes genital warts may go away without
treatment while others, if left untreated, may grow
bigger and multiply and even spread to other parts
of the penis. However they are benign (that is non-cancerous).
As warts on the penis are not always easy to see
with the naked eye, a person suffering from them will
not always even know that they are there. If they
appear, they usually do so approximately two to three
months after contracting the virus and they will be
on the shaft or head of the penis. Sometimes these
penis warts are not even painful or itchy which is
another reason why many of those men infected are
not aware of their presence. Other times there will
be pain, itching and a burning sensation.
What about treatment for penis warts?
It is important to have any genital warts before
they get out of hand. Your doctor or clinic will be
able to give you a correct diagnosis as well as advise
you on the different methods of treatment such as:
o Topical agents - some of which have been used to
treat genital warts since the 1940s. They contain
caustic chemicals which gradually eat away at the
wart. If not applied carefully, they can irritate
your normal skin.
o Surgical therapy – different methods are
used where the penis warts are cut, burned, lasered
or frozen away and depending how extensive such warts
are, will require some sort of anesthesia, and may
well be painful.
o Immunotherapy – there are medications which
can be injected directly into your penis warts to
stimulate your body’s immune system to kill
the warts. There are side effects including shaking
chills, fever and depression. The procedure can take
up to 8 weeks.
o Natural healing products – these are made
from essential oils and can be used at home to remove
genital warts on the penis with no side effects or
scarring.
Prevention
As far as sex is concerned, it is best to wait until
the penis warts have been treated and cleared up.
Before you have sex, talk openly to your partner about
how to protect yourselves. A male latex condom which
covers the whole penis can provide protection from
penis warts if used correctly every time you have
sex. Unfortunately, condoms are not 100% safe and
the only sure way to prevent catching or passing on
any of the sexually transmitted diseases is by not
having sex at all.
Go
to our Genital Warts Treatment page
