Genital Warts

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease, is a frequent cause of genital warts. It can also cause outbreaks in the vulva, vagina, cervix, or anal area and is sometimes accompanied by other infections and STDs. HPV is also believed to be a factor in causing cancer of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. About 50 to 70 percent of the sexual partners of women with HPV have, or will develop, genital warts.

If you have had several episodes of yeast infection, you should consider being tested for HPV, as HPV may make a woman more vulnerable to this problem. Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis can accompany genital warts.

A Dangerous -- and Growing -- Problem

With 5.5 million new cases reported each year, human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease. It's not a trivial problem, either: Some strains of HPV cause cervical, vaginal, or vulvular cancer.

Although HPV is frequently "silent," causing no symptoms at all, it's often signaled by the development of genital warts. Following infection, the warts can take up to 6 months to make their appearance. First seen as small, soft, moist, pink or red swellings, the warts then grow rapidly, often developing stems and clustering together to form a cauliflower-like growth.

Standard wart medications will sometimes clear up the infection. Frequently, however, the growths must be burned off or surgically removed. For more information on this increasingly common problem, see "Coming to Terms with Sexually Transmitted Diseases.