Genital Warts Relief - Genital Warts Symptoms

Genital warts can appear as gray or flesh-toned growths that can be flat or raised and can appear in, or on, or around the genitals. Generally, genital warts are painless, but they can be bothersome because of their size, location or due to itching. Genital warts can be as small as one millimeter across. But when they join together to form cauliflower looking clumps, they can be as large as several square centimeters.

Genital warts symptoms can include bleeding or urinary obstruction when the warts clump together to block the urethral opening ( the opening where the urine exits the body), although this is a rare occurrence.

In men, genital warts can appear on the scrotum, penis, testicles, thighs, anus and groin area. The growths can be soft and smooth, such as they sometimes appear on the penile shaft, or they can be rough with a slightly darker color, such as anal warts. The lesions can be hidden by hair or be in the inner aspect of the uncircumcised foreskin.

Genital warts have a similar appearance in women and predominately appear in the moist areas of the labia minora and vaginal opening. A thorough examination of the anorectal area, the vaginal canal and the cervix should be undertaken if lesions are visible on the outer genitals.

Genital warts are sexually transmitted and are highly contagious. Because the warts do not usually appear until three months or more after an individual becomes infected with the HPV that causes them, the virus can be spread before the carrier is even aware that he or she has it. Two of the strains of HPV that cause genital warts have been associated with cancer of the cervix: five strains of HPV are seen in nearly all surface cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, penis, and perianal area. An infant can contract warts by being exposed to genital warts during the birth process.