Over the last number of months, we’ve certainly learned a thing or two about the wide range of contraceptives that are available on the market today. Now, we are going to continue our focus on sexual health by studying a wide range of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Last time, we took a look at gonorrhoea. This week, we will be focusing on genital warts. _________________________________ What are genital warts? Anogenital Warts (or genital warts), are caused by a virus that may be passed on due to close sexual contact. They are small lumps that can develop around the genital area or the anus. They are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts are one of the most commonly acquired sexually transmitted infections. How do you get genital warts? The virus is passed on by sexual and close skin-to-skin contact. This means that you do not have to necessarily have penetrative sex in order to contract or pass on the infection. What are the symptoms? It can take weeks or months to develop warts after contracting HPV. However, not everyone who has HPV has warts, thus the virus can be passed on without realizing and it can also be passed on after warts have been treated or are gone. In most cases, they do not cause physical discomfort. There may be some irritation or soreness, and can bleed or be the cause of pain during intercourse. Do anogenital warts cause any complications? They are not serious, but can be extremely unsightly. Some people opt to leave them alone without treatment. How do I get tested? Anogenital warts can normally be diagnosed by your GP or nurse by their appearance when you are examined. Tests are not usually needed to confirm the diagnosis, but other swab tests may be taken to check for other infections. What is the treatment? There are a number of different treatments but each usually takes a number of weeks to clear the warts – sometimes, it may take as long as six months. It has been reported that smokers do not tend to respond as well to treatments. There is also the chance that the warts can return after treatment. How can I prevent it? Condoms help to prevent HPV from being passed on, though they do not completely protect you as the skin that is not covered by a condom may become infected.   If you believe that you have any sexually transmitted infection, you should make an appointment to see your GP.