Male Genital Warts

Male genital warts are very widespread and though not as life-threatening as women’s, they are still irritating and should not be ignored. Genital warts are one of the most common STDs around and are transmitted via the human papillomavirus (HPV). In the US there are more than 20 million people that are infected by the virus and more are added to the list each year.

Genital warts can be identified as small cauliflower like bumps that appear in the form of pink, red and grey swellings. They are disgusting and any appearance of them would make you go the doctor immediately. However, medical warts may also be too small to be seen with the naked eyes. During check-ups doctors may have to use special equipments and chemicals to diagnose their infection. These genital warts appear on the penis, the scrotum, urethra, around the anus and the area between the penis and anus. These warts can cause severe irritations and often, bleeding as they are like raw meat that can’t come in touch with skin contact.

Male genital warts are transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse. However, in some instances products that are shared such as underwear can also be a medium in which the virus may be transmitted. Even by using condom or other external contraception, they can only cut down the risk of infection and not preventing them totally. Some other factors also contribute to the infection and spread of the genital warts, such as sickness. A person that has severe sickness such as blood cancer (leukaemia) or HIV would be in greater risk of contracting the virus as their immune system is weakened, enabling the virus to spread easier and faster throughout the whole body. Those who have weak immune system such as smokers and drinkers are also very prone to the infection.

Treatments for genital warts are not immediate and take a long time to show their effectiveness. Some of the methods are by medications, cryotherapy, simple surgery and even laser surgery. Medications are usually the first method applied by the patients themselves in which case the infection are not too severe. Cryotherapy on the other hand is the most common method of treatment where liquid nitrogen is sprayed onto the warts, causing blisters to form. Overtime, the blisters will heal and allowing new skin to form. Complete removal however, requires several treatment of cryotherapy. Simple surgery would be the simplest way like a normal surgery where the warts are cut off.

For all the treatments above, there is no guarantee of complete removal of the genital warts and treatments may have to be done a couple of times.