Condyloma Information

Amongst the large number of diseases to which humans are prone, those which are sexually transmitted are the most severe. Sexually transmitted diseases are those which are transmitted through intimate intercourse between two people. As far as condyloma is concerned, it is the second most common sexually transmitted disease known to man. The infection starts small in the form of rashes which grow into pimples and later become warts which have the potential to cause cervical cancer. Affected areas include the vaginal opening in women and the opening on the penis in males. Both sexes may also witness these warts around the anus.

Causes:

The main cause for the spread of condyloma is a virus named Human Papilloma. Of the several types of HPVs known to man, type 11 and 6 cause genital warts while type 16 and 18 are responsible for the development of cervical cancer. Virus spreads by indulging in sexual intercourse (oral, anal or genital) or by touching the infected area. One misconception that needs to be resolved here is that the virus does not spread through toilet seats.

Symptoms:

There are sufficient amounts of symptoms that confirm the presence of condyloma. However, these come up after a long period (about 3 months to a year) till which, considerable damage has already been done. Before this period, it is almost impossible to know about the infection which also makes tracing difficult.

Warts are rough textured but may be smooth and flat. If the immunity of the patient is high, these may have show. If we compare the two sexes, the warts take longer to show up in case of women than men. Once they do, itching, fatigue and burning are only some of the things that would be experienced.

Diagnosis:

Any qualified doctor would be able to diagnose this disease. A simple physical examination is all it takes which can be performed in the doctor's office or at home. If a problem does arise, a small part of the wart cluster can be sent for biopsy and the confirmation received. Once the diagnosis has been done, the apt treatment procedure should be undertaken under the expert guidance of a doctor.

Post Treatment

No treatment process for condyloma or genital warts is hundred percent effective. This is because even though the warts can be removed, the HPV virus still remains in the body. After completion of treatment, a patient should keep a look out for the redevelopment of these warts. Again, it is a weak immune system that is responsible for this, which is why, women are more prone to experiencing a repeat.

Prevention

Prevention techniques for genital warts include getting vaccinated against it. Gardasil is commercially available in the market which can be injected into the body as a security measure. Not only does it prevent the development of warts but also cervical cancer. Another measure that can be undertaken is to avoid having many sexual partners. A barrier contraceptive is never hundred percent effective as far as prevention is concerned.