Genital warts are gray growths visible on the surface of genitalia or the anus sometimes clustered together forming a pattern.
It is a venereal disease affecting both males and females and it is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
It is a fairly complicated virus with many strains, but strain 6 and 11 causes over 90% of genital warts.
Transmission is via sexual contact or skin contact during any sexual activity with an infected person whether oral, genital or anal sex.
In women, the spread may go from the vagina up wards and may reach the cervix and the uterus.
In any society, the most sexually active age group of 25 to 35 suffers a great deal from this disease.
Often these are people who rarely use any protection and are changing partners more often.
It is also prevalent in those who engage in sex very early.
It is a very contagious disease with over 65% chance of getting it from an infected partner after sex.
The virus enters the body through minor tissue lesions or scratches during lovemaking.
More often the same virus propagates the development of cancer of the cervix, genital or the anus.
Strains of this virus are many and each bears a responsibility of damage of one kind or another.
This virus knows how to hide very well; it can hibernate for many years and remain infectious still.
This disease can also be referred to as venereal, condylomata acuminata, anal or anogenital depending on where it has landed.
In men, the symptoms appear on the anus, penis, and scrotum or on the thighs.
No records so far have indicated any growth around the mouth for anyone who has had oral sex.
The disease has no cure, but what is available is mainly for suppression.
Surgery may be employed to remove the ugly patched growth sometimes with temporary success.
It may even become complicated especially in women because of the nature of their genitals.
The virus is rampant in some quarters and disturbs women more than men.
For many reasons, the disease can spread quietly in society without detection because of poverty and inability to access medical support.
Unlike other infections that put patients down, this disease has been known to get eradicated via natural body immunity whether treated or not.
Some strains of this virus have a higher risk of developing cancer and in fact, it is the main causative agent of cancer of the cervix.
Upon diagnosis, the patient should be put on medication immediately before it spreads far.
Males too suffer; cancer of the penis is there and if not attended to early, it may expand and grow internally rendering the shaft useless.
Vaccines are available for all people under 30; this is fully tested and approved.
It is administered in three shots for a period of less than a year.
As usual, vaccines do not offer any protection to those already infected; therefore, prevention is better than cure.
For those who may find themselves victims, it is good to do a check up to confirm if there are any other STDs.
All kinds of topical creams and ointments are available for all sexes.