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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Discovering If You Have Genital Warts

By Ray Blaner

The sad thing about genital warts is that a lot of people do not know they have because they do not know what they look like. So what exactly do they look like? When you find out how to spot them, it will be a whole lot easier to tell if you have been infected. Proper identification is critical if you plan on attempting to treat them yourself. Otherwise, you should see your doctor.

Genital warts are generally white or pinkish small bumps that are found in the genital region. These small bumps look like the very same warts that are usually found on your hands and fingers. Some of them are so small that you can barely see them until they start popping up in clusters.

Believe it or not, there are some cases when doctors can not identify the genital warts at first glance and they often mistake them for pinched skin, abrasions, and normal bumps. To effectively identify them, doctors generally use acetic acid on the affected area. Then when something turns white, it means that the individual indeed has genital warts. Another way to identify these warts is by using a colposcope. The lens of this instrument behaves like that of a telescope and by using it the doctor can clearly see what is on the genital area. If you feel some small bumps on your genitals, you need to see a doctor immediately.

A genital wart is the result of a virus known as HPV. Warts do not usually pop up even among virus-infected people. Some warts do not look like warts at all and so it can be hard to tell if you have them. Warts come in various sizes so you need to give immediate medical attention if you feel anything uncommon in your genital area.

Both men and women can contract genital warts. Whenever men get them, they will often pop up on the anus, urethra, scrotum, and penis. Warts located near the anus are rough fingerlike projections while those found on the penis appear smooth. Their shape can be likened to a cauliflower and has pearly color. Since the genital area is covered with pubic hair, genital warts are oftentimes hard to see.

In women, genital warts are found around the vagina where there is lots of moisture. If you have genital warts around the vagina, you should see a qualified doctor at once because there is a high chance that you may have the warts in the ano-rectal and cervix area as well. Women are more prone to develop cervical cancer especially if the warts reach the cervix. Once you find out if you have genital warts, schedule an appointment with the doctor at once.

It is a good thing if you know what the genital warts look like because you can easily identify if you have them. By simply examining your genital area, you can tell if you have acquired the virus. It does not really matter if your personal examination turns out incorrect; what is important is that you can get early medical checkup and get proper diagnosis.

Even if genital warts are quite embarrassing, you need to seek medical help at once because you might be putting yourself at risk, especially among women. Even men should seek medical help if they have it. The good news is that there are many treatment options for trying to get rid of genital warts. After your doctor diagnoses your condition, you will then be able to select the very best treatment option.

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