What are the Symptoms of Anogenital Warts?

There are occasionally no symptoms of anogenital warts, which are also commonly referred to as genital warts. Most people may notice the warts initially, which might be either slightly raised or flat and are typically skin-colored. These warts are usually not painful, but they may occasionally cause some slight discomfort during urination or sexual intercourse depending on where they are located. Anogenital warts might also bleed if they become irritated, but most of the time they do not cause any serious symptoms. The warts themselves are not always noticeable, and a person may be able to go for several years without being aware that she has anogenital warts.

Anogenital warts are caused by a certain type of HPV (human papilloma virus) and are normally spread through sexual contact. The virus can lie dormant in a person's body for several years, and he could unknowingly pass it on to someone else without being aware that he is infected with it. There are also some people who are carriers of anogenital warts but never actually develop the warts. This means that, even though these people do not technically have the warts, they could still pass them on to other people.

There are some ways to treat anogenital warts, but it could take a couple of months to completely get rid of them. Doctors can prescribe various creams and lotions for a person to apply at home to get rid of the warts. Having the warts frozen or surgically removed is another option for anogenital wart removal. Treatment for genital warts is not always necessary because they usually go away on their own after a while. Even when the warts disappear, the infected person will still have the HPV virus in her body, which means she could experience another flare-up of warts at any time.

It is very important for people who have anogenital warts to practice safe sex in order to keep from spreading the warts to other people. The virus can spread even when a person does not have an active flare-up of warts. Most doctors agree that using condoms may be the best method of preventing the spread of anogenital warts, but it is important for a person with the warts to understand that there is still a chance he might give them to another person even with condom use. People who are in monogamous relationships might also need to take pause before accusing their spouses or partners of being unfaithful if they are diagnosed with genital warts because the virus can lie dormant in the body for up to ten years, and it may not have been contracted recently.