WOMEN’S BODIES: THE VIRAL STDS. GENITAL WART VIRUS INFECTION
Genital warts (also called condylomata accuminata) are caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). More than 60 different types of HPV have been identified so far, but only a dozen or so of these are found in the genital area. Fewer still cause genital warts. Different types cause common skin warts and warts on the soles of the feet.
Our knowledge about HPV has only begun to grow since the mid-1970s: before then it was believed that all warts were caused by the same virus. Today, every month scientific journals report new discoveries about HPV, and the more we learn about it, the more we realize is still unknown. There are many questions about the wart virus that can’t yet be answered.
HPV can invade and multiply in the cells of stratified squamous epithelium anywhere in the body (including the skin, external genitals, vagina, anus, oral cavity and larynx), causing the cells to overgrow and form warty lesions.
Some HPV types cause changes that can’t be seen with the naked eye in moist membranes such as linings of the vagina, ecto-cervix, mouth and larynx.
Genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection; more than three times more common than genital herpes. Experts believe that the number of people infected is increasing.
Genital warts are lumps formed by clusters of finger-like projections of overgrown skin with a cauliflower-like surface. Some types of HPV cause flat-surfaced lumps (plane warts); others cause pimple-shaped lumps (papular warts). Genital warts usually feel softer than skin warts.
If you have warts that can be seen or felt it is called a clinical or macroscopic (able to be seen with the naked eye) infection. It’s thought that there are many more people with infections that can’t be seen (these are called subclinical).
You may have a single wart, but usually there are more. They can vary in size from just visible up to 1 cm across (rarely bigger). They may all look the same, or you may have a mixture of cauliflower-like, flat and pimple-shaped warts.
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March 12, 2009 - 8:50 AM