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Question:
my boyfriend just came home he was away for 4 years. he was tested and told he had a genital wort. i was tested and don't...we wont even go there...lol but we are due to get married soon. if the wort is removed what are the chances i can contract the virus? and can you only get the virus if there is an outbreak?
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Answer:
by Brian Zamboni: (03/24/2006)
Genital warts are caused by a virus called the human papilloma virus or HPV. Many scholars believe that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, with some statistics suggesting that about 50% of women have HPV. Women are believed to be more susceptible to HPV because cells in the cervix divide quickly, enabling the virus to reproduce. Genitals warts can appear in areas of the skin that are not clearly visible, such as a woman’s cervix or deep anal tissue. Certain strains of HPV have been implicated as a potential cause of cervical cancer. Not everyone with HPV will have genital warts, so the virus can be transmitted without any active warts. Also, infected towels or clothing can transmit HPV.
The most common form of treatment for genital warts involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze them off (a process called cryotherapy). There are other methods of treating genital warts, but consult your medical doctor--do not use products that are designed to treat warts on other parts of the body. The treatment does not rid the body of HPV. It is possible for the warts to reoccur even after treatment. There has been some research on a vaccine for HPV, most notably a recent version called Gardasil. You can talk to your medical provider about this. In the meantime, the only way to prevent the transmission of HPV is by using condoms. Unfortunately, condoms may not cover the site of infection and therefore using condoms may not eliminate the risk of transmission completely. Most experts agree that people should avoid sexual activity until visible warts are removed and the area has completely healed.
Reviewed by: Kathleen VanKirk DHS
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