Genital warts symptoms can vary from person to person so you need to consider your own requirements before deciding on one of the many possible options for treatment. Take some time to learn about what causes the condition so that you will understand the best way to ensure that they do not reoccur in the future.

Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) that exist. Literally millions of people in every country suffer from them, yet those who find themselves with genital warts are still most embarrassed about their condition and desperately want to be rid of them as discreetly as possible. This is quite understandable, but it is important to realize you should not be unduly upset or embarrassed by the condition. It is a highly contagious virus and infection happens about 65% of the time from skin coming into contact with infected skin. The only thing you can do is address the problem and seek professional help as quickly as possible. Remember, you are not alone and there are many options you can try to get rid of your genital wart symptoms.

Genital warts are the product of the human papilloma virus (HPV) which, due to the nature of viruses, cannot be cured with antibiotics. So although the virus cannot be eradicated, the warts themselves can be successfully treated. Generally they are painless but they can be embarrassing, firstly due to their location and tendency to itch and secondly due to the stigma that society seems to place on STIs. Warts can be any size and vary from less then a millimetres to as much as several square centimetres when individual warts grow larger and join together with others growing nearby. Then again, some people who have HPV never suffer from actual visible warts but they still carry the virus and are just as infectious as someone who is covered in warts.

In men, genital warts appear on the penis, underneath the foreskin, near the top of the urethra, around the scrotum, the anus, and sometimes on the top of the thighs. They may be soft, raised surfaces (especially on the penis) or hard and rough with frond like projections (anal warts) and can range in color from a light pearly appearance to a more dark coloring.

In women, the condition will generally appear on the cervix, the vulva, the vagina, and around the anus. They are similar in appearance to the male warts but if you discover external warts, you may want to think about having a thorough internal examination or a smear test. This is because these types of warts have a small chance of being benign skin tumors, or be a precursor for other abnormal cells in the body that could lead to cervical cancer. Most vaginal warts occur without the sufferer experiencing any symptoms at all, but occasionally women may experience bleeding and discomfort during sexual intercourse or possibly some vaginal discharge.

If left untreated, genital warts can grow larger, especially if you are expecting a baby. Large warts can cause more disruptions such as pain when urinating and even obstruction when delivering your baby. There have been cases when the baby has been infected with the virus during birth so it is always a good idea to sort out your genital wart symptoms before they get out of hand. Even though they can grow back after treating them, it is always best to arrest their growth as soon as you know you are infected.

© Megan Jackson

Megan is a teacher who likes to help people with genital warts issues. She is also a platinum-level expert author on EzineArticles.com which is the world’s largest article directory. Megan recommends using natural and homeopathic approaches such as Wartrol. For a special discount, just click here.