Genital warts facts

If you are worried that you may have contracted the genital warts virus from a partner or been diagnosed with the genital warts you may like to know some simple facts and statistics about the conduction. With a basic understanding of the conduction you can become more educated which will help you ensure that you don’t pass the virus onto others or help you decrease your chances of contracting the virus in the future.
Lots of rumours and false information are spread about genital warts, leading to people been unsure what to make of it and how to handle the virus. Hopefully these facts we can give you a quick insight and help you get a better understanding of the virus

Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus, also known as HPV.

Genital warts, sometimes referred to as venereal warts or condylomata acuminate

Genital warts have an irregular shape and can vary in shape and size from small red/white spots to large cauliflower-shaped lumps.

An estimated 2.3 million sexually active Americans have genital warts, which is increasing by 7% each year, but there are estimates that show there are as many as 5 million new cases actually transmitted each year!

Genital warts affect both men and women and can occur at any age.

If you have sexual intercourse with someone with the HPV there is a 2 in 3 chance you have contracted the virus.

After treatment there’s a 30% chance that the warts will come back – usually after a 6-12 months, no matter what treatment is used. The reason for this is because treatments destroy the wart, but cannot remove the HPV as it’s a virus that lives within the body.

50% of people who have HPV develop genital warts.

There are about 80 types of HPV, and depending on which strain you catch will determine if you develop genital warts.

Genital warts is extremely contagious and can grow large and spread

There is a particularly noticeable increase in genital warts among teenagers. In America and the UK, about 50% of genital warts are in the 16–24-year-old age group. it is less common in older people

5-10% of people are carrying the genital wart virus (HPV) and half of those people will develop genital warts caused by the HPV.

A person can have HPV without knowing as no genital warts have developed.

Gay and bisexual men are 17 times more likely to develop genital warts than straight men.

Penile cancer which is linked to genital warts is extremely rare. It affects one in 100,000 men

In the UK, warts are the commonest reason for attending a sexual health clinic - almost 90,000 people attended with a first attack of genital warts.

Where genital warts occur

In Woman genital warts usually occur around the opening of the vagina (vulva), but can occur in the folds of skin alongside the vaginal opening, to the womb, or around the anus. Both men and women can get the warts in their mouth and down the throat after engaging in oral sex (see genital warts pictures).

	Around the opening of the vagina (vulva) 66% In the vagina 37% Between the vagina and anus 29% Around the anus 23% On the cervix (neck of the womb) 8% At the opening of the urethra (where the urine comes out) 4%
..........	Figures from the archives of Dermatology 1984;120:472:

In men genital warts can appear anywhere on the penis, on the scrotum or in the groin. Homosexual men may also get infected in the anus and rectum.

	On the shaft of the penis 51% Around the anus34% Inside the hole (opening of the urethra) 10% Around the anus 10% Under the foreskin 8% Between the anus and scrotum 3% On the scrotum 1%
..........	Figures from the archives of Dermatology 1984;120:472:

These are just some basic genital warts facts, but hopefully these facts will help you become more aware and knowledgeable about HPV. However people don’t tend to know they have contracted HPV until they develop genital warts, which can increase the risk in contracting other more serious medical diseases in the future, which is why it is important to get yourself checked out by a doctor.

There are many treatment options available for those who experience genital warts – which can be purchased on you treatment page our site with no prescription.