—Need to know

Dear Need to know,

Genital warts look similar to warts that might develop on any other part of the body, but they appear on — you guessed it — the genitals. (This includes the penis, scrotum, groin, vulva, anus, vaginal lining, cervix, or rectum.) They're dry, often painless growths, rough in texture, and gray or pink in color. They can be flat or raised, and they vary in size. Untreated warts can grow together to form a cauliflower-like mass. The incubation time (time from exposure to appearance of growths) may range from a few weeks to many months or years.

Genital warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the name of a group of over 100 related viruses. Some types, the "high risk types," can lead to cancer of many of those precious genital areas mentioned above, the most common being cervical cancer. The "low risk types" are the ones that cause genital warts. Most people who are infected with HPV have no symptoms, and infections usually clear on their own. However, even without symptoms, the virus can be transmitted through genital contact including oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Genital warts can be removed by a doctor, but there is no cure for the virus itself.

In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine that protects against four strains of HPV: two that account for 70 percent of cervical cancers and two that account for 90 percent of genital warts. The vaccine is most effective if administered before any exposure to the virus. It is currently being recommended for girls and women ages 9 to 26. For more information, check out HPV vaccine in the works?.

If you're a Columbia student and you think that you might have genital warts, you can make an appointment at Primary Care Medical Services by calling x4-2284 or logging-in through Open Communicator. If you're not at Columbia, you can schedule a visit with your health care provider.

In the future, you might want to consider using a condom or latex dam any time you give or receive oral sex to reduce your risk of getting HPV; be aware, though, that the virus may be present on areas of the skin that are not covered.

Alice

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