What You Should Know About HPV And Genital Warts

Nobody likes to talk about sexually transmitted infections, but there’s nothing better for avoiding and understanding these STIs than a solid awareness of what they are, how they’re caused, and how they can be treated.

In the case of HPV and genital warts, there is some confusion in the public about what they are, whether they’re the same, or what the differences might be. We want to clear that up today, as well as provide some necessary information on them.

What Are They?

Ok, let’s start by defining what we mean when we’re talking about HPV, and Genital Warts.

HPV: An acronym for Human Papillomavirus, this term is used when referring to more than 100 different strains of the virus which can result in a variety of conditions from genital warts to cervical cancer.

Genital Warts: These are soft growths in the genital area caused by HPV that are usually either white or flesh coloured. They can appear by themselves, or in groups, and can be raised or flat.

HPV

HPV, or the Human papillomavirus, is a relatively common condition that around four out of five people will have at some point in their lives. It is sometimes referred to as the “common cold” of sexual activity. Affecting both men and women, HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, via tiny breaks in the skin. Usually, this happens without anyone knowing, meaning people often have HPV and are undiagnosed.

Now, while genital HPV is quite a common STI, it can sometimes cause serious illness. In fact, HPV is responsible for almost all cases of genital warts and cervical cancer, about 90% of anal cancers, 65% of vaginal cancers, 50% of vulva cancers and more.