Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the world. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which has more than 100 different strains. Genital warts are typically small, raised, and painless growths, and they can show up on a person’s vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, or anus.
However, despite its prevalence, many people do not seem to know much about genital warts. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of myths surrounding this infection. Let us share the common misconceptions and dispel them, so you can better understand the condition and avoid making the same mistakes.
Myth No. 1: Only women can develop genital warts
Many people believe genital warts can only be contracted by women. This misconception stems from the fact that other forms of the HPV virus can cause cervical cancer among women, leading many to believe that only women can contract HPV. Since this virus causes genital warts, this misconception is applied to them as well.
However, in reality, HPV has no gender preference. Any sexually active person is at risk of contracting HPV and developing genital warts. Although HPV-infected women are more likely to have visible symptoms of genital warts due to the moist environment of the vulva and the vagina, men are also susceptible to the disease but with less severe symptoms.
Myth No. 2: Genital warts are acquired only through unprotected sex
When people read the term sexually transmitted infection, some may mistake it to mean that they can only contract genital warts through unprotected sex. Therefore, they believe they are safe as long as they use a condom. However, this is not true. Although you have a higher chance of getting infected with HPV if you have unprotected sex, genital warts are not only contracted through sex.
You can also get genital warts through mere skin-to-skin contact. This means that you can acquire genital warts by coming into contact with an infected part of a person’s body. If you share sex toys with someone who has HPV, you are also at high risk of contracting the virus and developing genital warts.
Myth No. 3: Genital warts can be cured
Genital warts cannot be cured, but they can be treated. The treatments can remove these warts, but they do not eradicate the HPV virus from your body; thus there is a possibility of these warts re-emerging. There is a possibility that the virus may lie dormant, but there is no way to know for sure. Some patients who have undergone wart removal may not see these growths appearing again, while others might.
To reduce the chances of these genital warts resurfacing, always clean the infected areas and avoid scratching them. If the infected areas hurt or swell after the wart treatment, you can soothe the pain with an ice pack or take over-the-counter pain medicines to alleviate the discomfort.
Conclusion
It is disheartening to learn that misconceptions around genital warts still exist despite the STI’s prevalence. These myths only lead to more infections as the infected patients that believe them may continue to spread the virus by not taking the proper precautions. Therefore, it is crucial for everyone to stay informed so we can curb the spread of these STIs.
If you think you may be at risk of contracting HPV, it is highly recommended that you schedule a health screening as soon as possible. At Elyon Clinic, we provide quality and reliable testing and treatment services, such as HIV testing, wart removal, and more. You can give us a call at 6802 7208 to schedule an appointment today!
