Female genital warts can be identified as red and pink cauliflower like swellings on women’s private parts. Some parts are the vulva, vagina, cervix, perineum and anus. Sometimes, the genital warts are not visible and may only be suspected through irregular Pap smear checks. This kind of infection may pose a greater threat as they may be undetected and cause greater complications, such as cervix cancer and complications during pregnancy. Other symptoms may be unknown or foul smelling discharge from the vagina and also painful urinations.

The most common cause of a female getting infected by the virus is through unprotected sex with an infected partner, more likely through sexual intercourse. Oral sex and anal sex may also transmit HPV. Another factor is through prolonged sharing of underwear or swimming suits in which virus can transmit to another person wearing them. Vertical transmission may also occur where a mother infects her baby and passes the genital warts during childbirth. Bottom line is, genital warts are one of the most common STDs around and widespread among women that many of them get genital warts within a few months after having sex with someone who has genital warts.

For a pregnant female, genital warts can cause one major complication, which is during pregnancy and childbirth. During pregnancy, because of the hormones and weakened immune system of the body, genital warts may flare up, making urination very difficult and usually painful. Furthermore, some medications that are used to treat genital warts may be harmful to foetus and must not be taken during pregnancy. During childbirth, genital warts inside the vagina may also expand thus preventing the birth canal tissues from stretching and making the baby’s decent difficult and more painful. One rare complication is that HPV may be passed on from a mother to her baby and overtime, genital warts may show up on the baby’s genitals or the throat.

There is no effective method against contracting the virus except abstinence from sex. Female condom or condom can only lower the risk of infection and not totally preventing them. There are many methods of treatments however. Some common ones are cryotherapy, and normal surgery. Cryotherapy is where liquid nitrogen are used to freeze the warts causing blisters which will fall off overtime, causing new skin to grow. Normal surgery is where warts are cut off. Sometimes, doctors may also recommend medications for minor warts. However, all the methods will not guarantee complete eradication of the virus as only the warts are removed.

Female genital warts may become more complicated and even life threatening if left untreated. For such reason, it is sufficient to say that regular check-ups are recommended.