Genital warts are very contagious. You can get them during oral, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected partner. You can also get them by skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or (rarely) oral sex with someone who is infected. About two-thirds of people who have sexual contact with a partner with genital warts will develop warts, usually within 3 months of contact.
If you are infected but have no symptoms, you can still spread HPV to your sexual partner and/or develop complications from the virus
Sunday, August 10, 2008
CAUSE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND GENITAL WARTS.
More than 100 different types of HPV exist, most of which are harmless. About 30 types are spread through sexual contact and are classified as either low risk or high risk.
Some types of HPV cause genital warts--single or multiple bumps that appear in the genital areas of men and women including the vagina, cervix, vulva (area outside of the vagina), penis, and rectum. These are considered low-risk types.
High-risk types of HPV may cause abnormal Pap smear results. They could lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis.
Some types of HPV cause genital warts--single or multiple bumps that appear in the genital areas of men and women including the vagina, cervix, vulva (area outside of the vagina), penis, and rectum. These are considered low-risk types.
High-risk types of HPV may cause abnormal Pap smear results. They could lead to cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis.
HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND GENITAL WARTS.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the world. Health experts estimate there are more cases of genital HPV infection than any other STI in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 6.2 million new cases of sexually transmitted HPV infections are reported every year. At least 20 million people in this country are already infected.
Genital warts
Genital warts (sometimes called condylomata acuminata or venereal warts) are the most easily recognized sign of genital HPV infection. Many people, however, have a genital HPV infection without genital warts.
Genital warts are soft, moist, or flesh colored and appear in the genital area within weeks or months after infection. They sometimes appear in clusters that resemble cauliflower-like bumps, and are either raised or flat, small or large. Genital warts can show up in women on the vulva and cervix, and inside and surrounding the vagina and anus. In men, genital warts can appear on the scrotum or penis. There are cases where genital warts have been found on the thigh and groin.
Genital warts
Genital warts (sometimes called condylomata acuminata or venereal warts) are the most easily recognized sign of genital HPV infection. Many people, however, have a genital HPV infection without genital warts.
Genital warts are soft, moist, or flesh colored and appear in the genital area within weeks or months after infection. They sometimes appear in clusters that resemble cauliflower-like bumps, and are either raised or flat, small or large. Genital warts can show up in women on the vulva and cervix, and inside and surrounding the vagina and anus. In men, genital warts can appear on the scrotum or penis. There are cases where genital warts have been found on the thigh and groin.
RESEARCH ON INFLAMMATORY DISEASE.
Although scientists have learned much about the biology of the microbes (germs) that cause PID and the ways in which they damage the body, they still have much to learn. Scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are studying the effects of antibiotics, hormones, and substances that boost the immune system. These studies may lead to insights about how to prevent infertility and other complications of PID.
Scientists are developing rapid, inexpensive, and easy-to-use diagnostic tests to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea. A study conducted by NIAID-funded researchers demonstrated that screening and treating women who did not know they had chlamydia reduced cases of PID by more than half.
Researchers also are developing topical microbicides and vaccines that prevent gonorrhea and chlamydia. Others are investigating whether additional microbes such as Mycoplasma genitalium cause PID and are developing diagnostic tests and treatments for this infection. Meanwhile, researchers continue to search for better ways to detect PID, particularly in women who have no symptoms.
Scientists are developing rapid, inexpensive, and easy-to-use diagnostic tests to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea. A study conducted by NIAID-funded researchers demonstrated that screening and treating women who did not know they had chlamydia reduced cases of PID by more than half.
Researchers also are developing topical microbicides and vaccines that prevent gonorrhea and chlamydia. Others are investigating whether additional microbes such as Mycoplasma genitalium cause PID and are developing diagnostic tests and treatments for this infection. Meanwhile, researchers continue to search for better ways to detect PID, particularly in women who have no symptoms.
COMPLICATION OF PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE.
Prompt and appropriate treatment can help prevent complications of PID. Without treatment, PID can cause permanent damage to the female reproductive organs. Infection-causing bacteria can silently invade the fallopian tubes, causing normal tissue to turn into scar tissue. This scar tissue blocks or interrupts the normal movement of eggs into the uterus. If your fallopian tubes are totally blocked by scar tissue, sperm cannot fertilize an egg and you become infertile. Infertility also can occur if the fallopian tubes are partially blocked or even slightly damaged. About one in five women with PID becomes infertile.
In addition, a partially blocked or slightly damaged fallopian tube may cause a fertilized egg to remain in the fallopian tube. If this fertilized egg begins to grow in the tube as if it were in the uterus, it is called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can rupture the fallopian tube, causing severe pain, internal bleeding, and even death.
Scarring in the fallopian tubes and other pelvic organs can also cause chronic pelvic pain (pain lasting for months or even years). You are more likely to suffer infertility (20 percent of women), ectopic pregnancy (9 percent), or chronic pelvic pain (18 percent) if you have repeated episodes of PID.
In addition, a partially blocked or slightly damaged fallopian tube may cause a fertilized egg to remain in the fallopian tube. If this fertilized egg begins to grow in the tube as if it were in the uterus, it is called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can rupture the fallopian tube, causing severe pain, internal bleeding, and even death.
Scarring in the fallopian tubes and other pelvic organs can also cause chronic pelvic pain (pain lasting for months or even years). You are more likely to suffer infertility (20 percent of women), ectopic pregnancy (9 percent), or chronic pelvic pain (18 percent) if you have repeated episodes of PID.
PREVENTION OF PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE.
The surest way to avoid getting or transmitting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is to abstain from sex or to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and isn’t infected. Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce your risk of getting chlamydia and gonorrhea.
In addition, you can protect yourself from PID by getting treated quickly if you do get an STI.
The most common preventable cause of PID is an untreated STI, mainly chlamydia or gonorrhea. CDC recommends yearly chlamydia testing of all sexually active women age 25 or younger and of older women with risk factors for chlamydia (those who have a new sex partner or many sex partners). If you have had chlamydia, you also should be re-tested several months after completing treatment so you can be re-treated, if necessary.
In addition, you can protect yourself from PID by getting treated quickly if you do get an STI.
The most common preventable cause of PID is an untreated STI, mainly chlamydia or gonorrhea. CDC recommends yearly chlamydia testing of all sexually active women age 25 or younger and of older women with risk factors for chlamydia (those who have a new sex partner or many sex partners). If you have had chlamydia, you also should be re-tested several months after completing treatment so you can be re-treated, if necessary.
TREATMENT OF PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE.
According to CDC, health care providers should start treating sexually active young women and other women at risk for STIs if they have motion tenderness of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or cervix. Without adequate treatment, 20 to 40 percent of women with chlamydia and 10 to 40 percent of women with gonorrhea may develop PID.
Many different bacteria may cause an episode of PID. Therefore, your health care provider will prescribe antibiotics (generally two at once, by injection or by mouth) that are effective against a wide range of bacteria, including those causing chlamydia and gonorrhea. You should begin treatment as soon as your health care provider diagnoses PID because complications of the disease may be prevented with taking antibiotics immediately.
Women who douche may have higher risk of developing PID. Douching can change the vaginal flora (organisms that live in the vagina) and can force bacteria from the vagina into the upper reproductive organs.
Even if your symptoms go away, you should finish taking all of the medicine. You also should return to your health care provider 2 to 3 days after beginning the medicine to be sure the antibiotics are working.
Your health care provider may recommend going into the hospital to treat your PID if you
Are severely ill
Are pregnant
Do not respond to or cannot take oral medicine
Need intravenous (in the vein) antibiotics
Have an abscess (swelling) in your fallopian tube or ovary
If your symptoms continue or if an abscess does not go away, you may need surgery.
Complications of PID such as chronic pelvic pain and scarring are difficult to treat, but sometimes they improve with surgery.
Many sex partners may be infected with bacteria that cause PID and do not know it because they do not have symptoms. To protect yourself from being re-infected with bacteria that cause PID, you should discuss this with your health care provider.
Many different bacteria may cause an episode of PID. Therefore, your health care provider will prescribe antibiotics (generally two at once, by injection or by mouth) that are effective against a wide range of bacteria, including those causing chlamydia and gonorrhea. You should begin treatment as soon as your health care provider diagnoses PID because complications of the disease may be prevented with taking antibiotics immediately.
Women who douche may have higher risk of developing PID. Douching can change the vaginal flora (organisms that live in the vagina) and can force bacteria from the vagina into the upper reproductive organs.
Even if your symptoms go away, you should finish taking all of the medicine. You also should return to your health care provider 2 to 3 days after beginning the medicine to be sure the antibiotics are working.
Your health care provider may recommend going into the hospital to treat your PID if you
Are severely ill
Are pregnant
Do not respond to or cannot take oral medicine
Need intravenous (in the vein) antibiotics
Have an abscess (swelling) in your fallopian tube or ovary
If your symptoms continue or if an abscess does not go away, you may need surgery.
Complications of PID such as chronic pelvic pain and scarring are difficult to treat, but sometimes they improve with surgery.
Many sex partners may be infected with bacteria that cause PID and do not know it because they do not have symptoms. To protect yourself from being re-infected with bacteria that cause PID, you should discuss this with your health care provider.
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