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Vaginal warts are caused by sexually transmitted strains of HPV and can appear on various parts of the genitals. They may not be noticeable and can cause discomfort, bleeding during intercourse, and difficulty urinating. They are highly contagious and can lead to an increased risk of cervical cancer. Preventative measures include vaccines and safer sex practices.
Vaginal warts are growths in the vagina that represent infection with one of several sexually transmitted strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). The term vaginal warts is less familiar than the more frequently used term, genital warts. This is because warts can appear elsewhere, such as on the vulva, in the area between the vagina and anus, in areas just outside the vagina, and on the cervix. Men can also get warts on the genitals, penis, anus, or testicles. Both men and women can develop them in the throat if they engage in oral sexual activity with an infected person.
When women develop any form of vaginal warts, they may or may not notice they have them. If warts are on the vaginal walls, they are not obvious, and sometimes a genital wart infection produces warts that are so small that even if they are in more obvious places, they may not be noticed. Warts are usually small and may be fleshy or gray in color. They become more apparent if two or more warts grow together and these can take on what is described as a ‘cauliflower-like appearance’.
Because vaginal warts aren’t always easy to see, women may need to rely on several symptoms to suggest their presence. These could include itching or general discomfort and/or irritation. Sometimes warts bleed during intercourse, making intercourse painful. These sensations should be monitored especially if they occur during pregnancy, because HPV infections can be latent for long periods of time and can occur when women are pregnant.
There are several concerns with developing vaginal warts and medical attention is needed when they appear and afterward. In some cases, warts can grow so large that they become exceptionally uncomfortable, even blocking things like the urethra, making urination difficult. Excessively large warts may need to be removed, and doctors have various methods for effective removal which include using chemicals to destroy the wart tissue, or which may be more extensive and surgical in nature and could employ electric current, laser, scalpel freezing or excision.
The fact that warts are symptomatic of HPV infection poses an additional problem. Those strains of HPV linked to genital warts are also linked to a significantly increased risk of cervical cancer. If a woman develops an HPV strain with this potential, she will need to make sure she has regular checkups with a gynecologist and annual Pap smears to check for cancerous cells.
It’s also vital to realize that vaginal warts are highly contagious and can easily spread to partners. People most at risk of developing it are those who have unprotected sex, have sex with multiple partners, or become sexually active at an early age. There are preventative treatments, including cervical cancer vaccines such as Gardasil®. Safer sex practices such as using condoms can also minimize the risk of infection.
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