Genital Warts (Human Papilloma Virus)

Summary

Genital warts, also known as human papilloma virus (HPV), is estimated to affect between 40 -80% of the adult population in the United States. HPV is extremely hard to detect and is often present without symptoms, making it one of the most challenging STD’s to effectively treat.

Symptoms

The primary reason genital warts are so difficult to deal with is because they are very difficult to detect, because most people affected by them display no apparent symptoms. Less than 5% of people affected with genital warts have warts that are visible, and only another 3% of those affected possess warts which are visible without magnification.

When symptoms manifest, they include burning, itching, and reddening of the skin around the affected areas. While flat HPV warts are not noticeable to the human eye alone, non-flat genital warts appear as small, raised, moist bumps which are red or even pink in color, and like tiny cauliflowers. In men, warts are mainly located on the penis, scrotum, the opening to the urethra, and around the anus and rectum. In women, they occur not only on the outside of the genitalia but also on the vulva, genital wall, cervix, and around the rectum.

Cause

Genital warts come from the human papilloma virus. HPV can be transmitted through unprotected intercourse (oral, genital, and anal), and may also be contracted from materials contaminated with warts, including under garments and other clothes, medical equipment, sex toys or devices, and tanning beds.

Detecting Genital Warts

If you suspect you have genital warts, you can verify this by applying white vinegar to the suspected area and then checking it with a magnifying glass. Places that turn white are often a positive indicator of warts. For the most accurate results, seek the assistance of a physician.

Caution: Flat HPV warts can pose a very serious threat to women because HPV leads to changes within the cervical walls. If left untreated, these types of changes may progress into more serious cellular abnormalities referred to as dysplasia, and may even result in cancer.

Note: Typically, there aren’t any symptoms to alert a woman to the condition. This is why a yearly Pap Smear, the most effective screening tool for detecting irregularities in the vaginal area, is essential for women.

Avoidance Guidelines

As with all sexually transmitted diseases, the most effective reaction to genital warts is prevention. To avoid genital warts, do the following:

Be careful about choosing a sex partner and find out about his or her health and sexual background before engaging in a sexual relationship. Have sexual intercourse only if the individual has no obvious signs associated with infection and is willing to assure your safety during sexual intimacy. Be prepared to talk and inquire regarding past experiences. Be immediate and persistent. Make discussions about wellness a natural part of the sexual relationship.

Limit the number of people you have sex with. The risk of getting an STD rises tremendously in immediate relation to how many sexual partners you have had.

Avoid intercourse altogether if your partner exhibits signs of genital warts on his or her body.

Always practice safe sex. Males should always use a latex condom, especially when engaging in sex with someone new. As a substitute, women can consider the use of a latex female condom. Whenever engaging in oral sex, make use of a latex dental dam. Long-term, monogamous partners also need to use some form of protective contraceptive unless planning a pregnancy or you both have been screened and tested for all sexually transmitted diseases.

Avoid swallowing sperm, as it acts as an immune depressant and thus can improve the risk of STDs caused by contagious micro-organisms.

Avoid anal sex, especially without protection.

Pee after you have sexual intercourse in order to clean the urethra and stop infection. This applies to both men and women.

Have an annual checkup to be screened for STD’s you might not be aware you have.

If you know that you have a sexually transmitted disease, be responsible. Inform your companion and demand that he or she be examined and treated as well. Follow the treatment regimen that the physician prescribes as completely as possible, and try to use safety whenever you participate in sex.

Organic Cures

In some cases, conventional medical treatment may be necessary to effectively cope with genital warts. Such treatment can include burning raised warts away using a process known as electrocautery, freezing them with liquid nitrogen, or using the prescription drug podophyllin as a topical ointment. In some instances, aggressive radiation treatment may also be utilized by gynecologists. This process can cause pain and scarring as well as harm and narrow the vaginal wall, making sexual intercourse difficult.

The following organic cures may be used by themselves or in conjunction with conventional medical treatment. For best results, talk to a naturally trained physician.

Diet: Healthy eating is of the highest importance. Consume plenty of filtered drinking water and eat fresh, natural fruits and vegetables, complex whole grains, oatmeal, and organic, free-range meats and poultry as well as wild-caught seafood.

Avoid just about all commercial, processed, and nonorganic food, as well as alcohol, coffee, sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, meals dyes, whole milk and dairy products, wheat as well as wheat items, and refined carbs.

In addition, have yourself screened for possible food allergies and sensitivities and avoid individual foods for which you test positive.

To get rid of all imbalances and disease, we suggest the complete whole foods diet, to connect to the full article: Whole Foods Diet. Often, a raw food diet plan can be extremely advantageous. To learn more, read Raw Food Diet.

Herbal treatments: Thuja as well as lomatium, combined with vitamin A cream, can be applied topically to relieve symptoms. Tinctures of lomatium and thuja can also be taken orally on a daily basis.

Homeopathy: The actual homeopathic version of Thuja is suggested.

Lifestyle: Smoking and contact with secondhand cigarette smoke can increase symptoms as well as impair immune function, thereby increasing your risk of contracting genital warts and other STDs.

Nutritional Supplements: Helpful nutrients for preventing as well as reversing genital warts consist of vitamin A, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, B-complex, folic acid, and zinc.

Alternative Professional Treatment

The following professional therapies can also help to treat genital warts: Ayurveda, Detoxification therapy, Energy Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Magnet Therapy, Naturopathic Treatments, Orthomolecular Medicine, Oxygen Treatment, and traditional Chinese Medicine. (See Resources for Additional Information).