Genital Warts
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Santa Monica and Los Angeles
Anogenital warts, like all other warts, are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). There are about 130 known types of human papilloma viruses. HPV infects the squamous epithelium, usually of the skin or genitals, but each HPV type is typically only able to infect only a few specific areas on the body.
They are considered a sexually transmitted disease. The HPV virus t is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. Warts are the most easily recognized symptom of genital HPV infection, where types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90% of genital warts cases.
HPV is associated with cervical cancer.
Gardasil is a HPV vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancers and genital warts. Gardasil is designed to prevent infection with HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. HPV types 16 and 18 currently cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases.
Various treatments are available to treat warts. These include freezing (liquid nitrogen), or using toxic chemicals on the warts, or prescription medication to stimulate the body’s immune system to fight off the warts. Large warts can also be surgically removed.