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Where do they come from? |
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it comes from a virus called ‘Human Papilloma Virus’ (HPV) |
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there are approximately 73 different varieties – some cause warts on other parts of the body and some just in the genital area |
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How do I get them? |
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close physical or sexual contact |
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How long do they take to show? |
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any time from 3-18 months |
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What might I notice? |
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they can ‘lie dormant’ (sleeping) and you may not have any symptoms |
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they may only be found when a partner notices that they have them or they are told at another check-up ie smear test |
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there may be tenderness, general itching and inflammation ‘down below’ or around the ‘back passage’ |
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there may be obvious visible warts or ‘cauliflower like’ clusters of warts |
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there may be a feeling of ‘lumps’ growing on the skin |
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there may be alteration in the strength and direction of your urine stream (‘wee’) |
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What tests would I have? |
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a doctor would look at the warts, perhaps with a magnifying glass under a good light |
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for women: smear tests may show the presence of wart virus at the neck of the womb |
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sometimes a woman may be asked to have a ‘colposcopy’ at the hospital, where the neck of the womb is viewed with a special magnifying glass/microscope |
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What treatment is there? |
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Men and women |
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some warts are painted with special medicine |
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others have to be frozen off or burnt off under local anaesthetic |
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some of the treatments can take several weeks and involve many visits to the clinic |
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Women |
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some warts on the neck of the womb, have to be treated by various minor surgical measures |
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What should I do after I finish the treatment? |
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be guided by the doctor treating you |
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What about my partner? |
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however much you may be embarrassed, it is important to tell your partner(s) |
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they should be checked at a GUM Clinic, even if no warts can be seen |
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Women |
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regular cervical smears are also strongly advised |
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these should be yearly for 3 years – then if clear, every 3 years |
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What about sex? |
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there is a risk of passing on the virus at any time but the most likely time is whilst warts are present – until given the ‘all clear’ is given by the doctor treating you, usually 3-6 months after the completion of the treatment |
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take the advice of the doctor treating you |
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some doctors advise abstaining (no sex or even masturbation) until the treatment is finished, as friction spreads warts |
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What about oral sex, anal sex and condoms? |
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warts can be passed by oral or anal sex, so it is essential to use condoms |
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What complications can come from having Genital Warts? |
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four varieties of wart virus are often found in cervical abnormalities - including pre-cancerous changes, when combined with other risk factors |
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babies of women with genital wart virus are at risk of contracting the virus during the birth process |
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if they are in the urine passage, the urine flow may be altered |
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they may become infected and bleed, making them painful and cause discomfort |
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they may spread around the genital area and cause great distress |
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Genital Warts can return |
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How can I avoid getting them? |
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the virus can ‘lie dormant’ (sleeping) for many months, so the risk is there for most people |
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don’t share towels or underwear |
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the use of condoms may help to prevent recurrence |
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