Genital Warts Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Genital Warts Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
The best way to prevent genital warts is abstinence. Condoms can help lower risk of HPV infection, but they can't fully protect against HPV since there may still be skin to skin contact with an infected area. Condoms are still important in protecting against other sexually transmitted infections. Unfortunately, since many people do not have symptoms, they are unaware they are spreading the virus. If your partner discovers a wart, insist that he or she sees a doctor. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you should see your doctor also.
Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix have been approved by the FDA to help reduce the risk of cervical cancer by immunizing young women aged 9-26 against certain strains of HPV which cause 70% of cervical cancers. Young men aged 9 to 26 can also be immunized. Gardasil also provides protection in men and women against HPV strains that cause 90% of genital wart cases. The vaccine has also been approved for the prevention of anal cancer.
Ideally, the vaccine should be given prior to the patient becoming sexually active. Both of these vaccines are given in a three-shot series over six months.
Understanding Genital Warts -- Diagnosis and Treatment
In this article
- How Are Genital Warts Diagnosed?
- What Are the Treatments for Genital Warts?
- How to Prevent Genital Warts
How to Prevent Genital Warts
The best way to prevent genital warts is abstinence. Condoms can help lower risk of HPV infection, but they can't fully protect against HPV since there may still be skin to skin contact with an infected area. Condoms are still important in protecting against other sexually transmitted infections. Unfortunately, since many people do not have symptoms, they are unaware they are spreading the virus. If your partner discovers a wart, insist that he or she sees a doctor. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you should see your doctor also.
Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix have been approved by the FDA to help reduce the risk of cervical cancer by immunizing young women aged 9-26 against certain strains of HPV which cause 70% of cervical cancers. Young men aged 9 to 26 can also be immunized. Gardasil also provides protection in men and women against HPV strains that cause 90% of genital wart cases. The vaccine has also been approved for the prevention of anal cancer.
Ideally, the vaccine should be given prior to the patient becoming sexually active. Both of these vaccines are given in a three-shot series over six months.
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