Veneral Warts 101

Genital warts are commonly referred to as venereal warts. Medically they are also referred to as condylomata acuminata. Genital warts is probably the most common sexually transmitted infection.

Genital warts are flesh colored growths or bumps (sometimes look like cauliflower) and can appear almost anywhere in the perineal and genital area. The lesions may be quite small, large and multiple. Most commonly these warts are seen near the vagina, vulva, just above the cervix, penis, scrotum, anus or groin area.

Genital warts are difficult to treat and have become a public health concern. The warts occur because of infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). This same virus has also been linked to cervical cancer and today it is believed that the same virus may play a role in other related genital cancers.

Symptoms

In women, genital warts may be seen around the vulva, cervix, vagina, anus and in-between the anus and vagina. In men venereal warts are most common on penile shaft or tip of the penis. They can also occur on the scrotum and in the groin crease. There are reports that individuals who practice oral sex often get venereal warts at the back of the throat.
Individuals who develop venereal warts may complain of the following:

- In the majority of individuals, venereal warts do not cause any symptoms.

- Some warts are so small that they may not always be visible. However, warts can also grow pretty large when they occur in clusters

- Single or multiple flesh brown or dark gray colored swellings which sometimes look like a tiny cauliflower

- Itching is a common complaint especially when the skin overlying the wart have been traumatized

-Most people have no pain but warts can get traumatized and bleed. Bleeding is most common during sexual intercourse or masturbation.

- Some individuals will get re-activation of venereal warts after acquiring an infection anywhere in the body

- Women who become pregnant may also see the outbreaks of venereal warts.

All individuals have to understand, that venereal warts are considered a sexually transmitted disease. This means if you got it you can give it to someone else; and if you got it, someone gave it to you.

Herpes Genitalis- takes the fun out of sex Part 2

Classification

Herpes infections are typically classified as primary or recurrent. The primary infection is usually acquired during childhood. In some individuals, there may be only episode of infection (primary); for the unlucky individual, the virus keeps on reactivating itself and causes repeat infections (secondary). After the first infection, the virus never disappears from the body.

One of the oddities about herpes infections is that the organism has a great affinity for nervous tissue- and this is where it resides (latent or goes to sleep). The secondary infections occur when the virus is reactivated from its dormant state and causes the infection. Why and what makes the virus active again is a mystery but some factors are known to trigger its reactivation. These include stress both physical and emotional, excessive exposure to sun, major illness, colds, fevers and a lot of bad luck.

The most common complication of primary herpes genitalis is an associated bacterial infection. Women may also complain of difficulty passing urine and about ¼ women may develop aseptic meningitis (infection of the brain lining).

Herpes genitalis is very similar to the oral herpes type 1; it also causes pain, numbness, and extreme discomfort. Having herpes genitalis is also not good for the mind- it greatly affects the psyche. Most individuals do not brag they have herpes genitalis for obvious reasons.