What Happens if I Get Genital Warts? Is it Bad?

In most cases, the appearance of warts on the genitals is associated with HPV virus infection. Often, the strains of the virus that produce this symptom cause benign lesions, at least when they appear on the external genitals.

However, when HPV genital warts appear in the internal area of the genitals, there is a significant risk. These lesions are indeed precancerous, so they increase the risk of certain types of cancer.

In the following, I will tell you relevant information about this and other symptoms of the Human Papilloma Virus.

Why do genital warts appear?

The first thing you should know is that today there are more than 200 strains of HPV, and each variant may or may not produce warts or condylomas.

You’re probably wondering, why do warts appear? It turns out that some strains of the Human Papilloma Virus affect the cells that form the Epithelial Tissue, causing certain areas of the skin to thicken, leading to this lesion.

This sexually transmitted infection can also cause alterations in certain cells that produce mucous-like tissues. Therefore, some warts appear internally in the mouth mucosa or on the genitals, they even appear in the anus.

What are genital warts?

These are almost always small protrusions, which can appear alone or in groups. The shape of these alterations can often be flattened, but in some cases, it takes the form of a cluster.

As you can notice, there is no single classification as to what genital warts or condylomas are like. Even about the color, sometimes they are light or the same tone as the skin.

Something you should know is that warts on the genitals are highly contagious, HPV is transmitted through sexual relations when coming into contact with these lesions or with mucosa affected by the virus.

Where do genital warts appear?

Many people think that HPV warts on the genitals only appear on the pubis or at the base of the penis. However, the truth is that in women they can also be found around the entrance of the vagina or on the folds of the vulva.

In men, they may be located in the urinary opening, the scrotum, or even around the anus. These lesions can also appear on the pubis or on the upper part of the thighs.

Risk factors for HPV lesions

The following are some risk factors that increase the possibility of contracting the virus:

Having oral sex with a person who has an HPV infection increases the risk of contagion; warts can also appear in the mouth.
On the other hand, people with high-risk sexual practices also have a higher risk as they expose themselves to intimacy with people who may carry the virus.
Likewise, those who have sexual relations without using barrier methods such as condoms also have a higher exposure to contagion.

What can genital warts cause me?

If you’ve noticed warts on your genitals, you might be wondering if you’ll experience other symptoms. This depends, every case is different.

However, these lesions are often harmless and disappear on their own in a few weeks. In some specific cases, they can cause pain and inflammation, also itching or even bleeding.

If your genital wart has bled, it’s important for you to go to the doctor for a professional evaluation.

Note: It is NOT wise to attempt to remove HPV warts with risky, medically unapproved home remedies. Some try to cut out warts with a nail clipper and end up with a riskier lesion.

These were some tips to help you know how to deal with HPV. However, there is much more you need to do if you really want to get rid of HPV and warts forever.

What you need to do is GET RID OF THE ROOT of the problem.

For that reason, I recommend you to look into Dr. Kirkland's story and how he was able to cure HPV and get rid of warts for good.

Click here to see what he did

How do I know if I have HPV?

If you are a woman and want to know if you have HPV, the ideal thing is for you to go to the doctor and undergo a cytology or Pap smear.

In fact, the world cancer associations suggest undergoing this evaluation at least once a year to prevent alterations that suggest a higher risk of cervical cancer.

In the case of men, they can go to the urologist and the doctor by evaluating the aspect of the warts can confirm if they are HPV lesions. And if the warts are in the anus, a colposcopy helps to clarify the diagnosis.

How do I know if a wart is due to papilloma?

Thanks to the experience of specialists, after observation and knowing the patient’s context, they can issue a diagnosis.

However, the application of salicylic acid to the lesions helps confirm if a wart is due to Human Papilloma or not. Because when the affected skin turns white, it signifies that it is a HPV wart.

When should I worry about a wart?

If you notice that the warts, instead of disappearing, have increased in size or have changed their appearance, you should see a doctor.

Here are other important reasons to see a doctor for genital warts:

You’ve had warts for many weeks.
The warts have started to bleed.
You notice that the area is hot and swollen.
In addition to warts, you have noticed a burning sensation when urinating.
The warts have spread to more genital skin.

What happens if I don’t get rid of HPV warts?

It depends, if they are in the inner region of the genitals it is of vital importance that you go to a doctor who can remove these lesions.

When internal genital warts are not treated in advance, the damage progresses which leads to cellular changes. Hence the latent risk of developing cancer years after having had these lesions.

Finally, in the case of HPV warts on the external genitals, they are often harmless.

But this does not mean that you cannot utilize treatments to eliminate them, remember that they are highly contagious. There are even topical treatments to remove them.

Lastly… what should you do if you have HPV?