# Genital Warts.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2001, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804 "2001-04-13T09:17:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RAWisSYDNEY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@RAWisSYDNEY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWisSYDNEY)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/1 "2001-04-13T09:17:26Z")
In science we got these worksheets about body diseases and male & female genital warts was on there. It said Female genital warts can cause cervical cancer, but it didnt say anything about male genital warts. What effects do male genital warts have? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/2 "2001-04-13T13:06:38Z")
> **[WebMD - Better information. Better health.](https://www.webmd.com)** > > The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert... > [@](#): > > Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. …Genital warts (condylomata acuminata or venereal warts) are caused by only a few of the many types of HPV…Low-risk papilloma viruses cause warts but not cervical cancer. High-risk viruses, however, cause cervical cancer and also are associated with vulvar cancer, anal cancer, and cancer of the penis (a rare cancer). Men often carry HPV with no symptoms and pass it on to their partners with no idea they are infected. It is highly contagious through skin-to-skin contact; a latex condom may prevent infection. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/3 "2001-04-13T23:33:50Z")
You got posts on Genital Warts, Bags Under the Eyes, & Ghod knows what else. If you’re concerned about all this stuff, shouldn’t you be checking into a leper colony? Or maybe you got Herod’s Evil? Please, don’t post a picture of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/4 "2001-04-14T01:04:28Z")
Suppose you get a common wart, like the kind on your hand, on your genitals. Is it now a genital wart or common wart on your genitals? Is it as serious as genital warts??? I have always wondered about this… ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/5 "2001-04-14T03:04:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > \*\*Suppose you get a common wart, like the kind on your hand, on your genitals. Is it now a genital wart or common wart on your genitals? Is it as serious as genital warts??? > > I have always wondered about this… \*\* No. There are numerous types of viral warts. And as one poster said, the visible warts one gets on the genitals are generally different from the type that causes cervical cancer in women. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/6 "2001-04-14T03:15:14Z")
It’s true that there are numerous types of HPV (they all have cute little numbers, like #9 and #16), and it’s true that the types that cause exterior genital warts are different from the types (two types, actually, IIRC) that are linked to cervical cancer. However, it’s also true that those folk who carry one might also carry other types of HPV. So having one type may mean you’re at higher risk for the other. BTW, they estimate that a pretty hefty proportion of the adult population carries HPV. Condoms are not adequate protection against spreading them because they often occur on areas that aren’t covered by condoms. OTOH, if you have to have an STD, this is the one to have. You may be asymptomatic, and if you do get warts, they’re easily treated. Granted cervical cancer ain’t something you want, but with regular Pap smears you can probably catch this before it’s a real health issue. Um, I’m not PROMOTING warts, make no mistake. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/7 "2001-04-14T03:57:44Z")
This is a really complicated topic and a lot is still unknown about HPV. Couple of things I wanted to add: the visible, benign genital warts people get are not always easy to treat. Some people have them treated frequently and they keep coming back. There are more than 70 kinds of HPV, and there are now 13 known to be associated with cervical cancer. These strains of HPV are thought to be the primary cause of _all_ cervical cancer. Almost 5000 women in the US die from cervical cancer every year. As another poster said, PAP smears can usually catch this cancer early. For some reason, many women who contract HPV (the cancer-causing strains) are able to shed it completely without developing cancer of the cervix. The reasons for this are not completely understood. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/8 "2001-04-14T09:58:49Z")
As an interviewer once said to Lemmy of Motorhead: “Tell us the full story…warts 'n all” Can I hijack one more time ? I had a girlfriend once who I’m now related to…long story…but when I knew her, she had genital warts and we took all the recommended precautions. Fine. Thing is, she’s now married to someone close to me and I know they both wanted children prior to getting together. However, they’ve been together for two – three years and I’ve been wondering (obviously, it would be a little indiscreet to ask either of them) whether genital warts can affect a woman’s ability to conceive. Seems like there are a great number of strains of this disease. I have no idea whether that impacts on an answer, whether any medication might also affect one’s ability to become pregnant or whether treatment varies between countries (she’s American living in the US). I believe they are hell to get rid of and, of course, unprotected sex while they’re still present is not a good idea…anyone have any idea’s how a couple would deal with this situation given neither one of them ‘is getting any younger’ ? ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/9 "2001-04-14T14:23:48Z")
“whether genital warts can affect a woman’s ability to conceive.” No. However, if she’s had warts she is at somewhat higher risk of having had other sexually transmitted infections including some (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhoea) that can affect her ability to conceive. “whether any medication might also affect one’s ability to become pregnant” No. However, some treatments shouldn’t be used during pregnancy and, in general, if warts are judged to need treatment and pregnancy is planned, it’s best to treat the warts first and get pregnant after. “whether treatment varies between countries (she’s American living in the US).” Yes. Treatment even varies between doctors. There is not ideal treatment for genital warts. All we have are several imperfect treatments, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. However, in general, both U.S. and UK physicians tend to base their treatment recommendations on science and thus tend to use the same treatments. “I believe they are hell to get rid” Just like warts anywhere, they can come back after treatment and can be difficult to get rid of permanently. However, just like warts anywhere, they can also just disappear on their own. “unprotected sex while they’re still present is not a good idea” On the other hand, in a monagamous relationship, is it really smarter for one partner to try to avoid what is usually not a serious infection when (1) the means of prevention (condoms) is not 100% effective and (2) when the prophylactic measures may have to be used indefinitely (since you can’t be sure the wart virus is gone just because no warts are visible)? “…anyone have any idea’s how a couple would deal with this situation given neither one of them ‘is getting any younger’ ?” Ignore it? For more than you want to know about the management of genital warts, you can go to [http://www.evidence.org/](http://www.evidence.org/), sign up for the free trial, and check out the chapter by Anna Wald on genital warts. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genital-warts/61804/10 "2001-04-14T15:38:34Z")
I wrote a message about HPV 14 months back. it gives an excellent discussion of it. “It said Female genital warts can cause cervical cancer” I think you either need to 1. reread what was said on your paper Or 2. inform the instructor the correct information. Warts do NOT cause cancer. One of the viruses may cause dysplasia & cancer however. JillGate, Im still waiting for a response to the possible connection between prostate cancer & HPV #16/18 etc. There must be one. Have you ever read anything about a link between them?