Genital warts are caused by a virus called HPV. This virus is the most common STD. Testing for HPV is not included as part of STD testing, because the virus usually causes no symptoms. However, those with genital warts should get STD testing for other diseases that can be transmitted along with HPV.
The most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s transmitted through direct contact with an infected mucous membrane, through vaginal, anal, or oral sex.
Certain strains of HPV cause %genital warts%. These small growths may appear on the genitals, in the anal area, or in the mouth and throat. However, many people who have these strains of HPV are carriers, and don’t show any symptoms. Someone may not have any warts, but can still transmit genital warts to you by passing you the HPV.
Different strains of HPV are linked to certain types of cancer, including cervical cancer. This is the reason there’s a vaccine against HPV. One form of the vaccine only protects against cancer-causing strains, while another form also protects against wart-causing strains. There are many different HPV strains, and no form of the vaccine protects against all of them. Only the most common strains are included in the vaccine.
It’s easy for some people to get confused between HPV, HIV, and HSV, since the names sound similar. HIV causes immune problems and AIDS, and must be controlled with lifelong medication. HSV causes herpes, and also remains in the body for life, causing repeated outbreaks of sores. HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, is very different from either of these.
In healthy people, genital warts will usually clear up on their own within a year, so treatment isn’t necessary. It’s also usually unnecessary to test the wart for HPV, since the diagnosis is almost always obvious to a doctor. Finding out which particular strain of HPV caused the wart isn’t useful, because it won’t affect how the wart is treated. The wart-causing strains of HPV also aren’t the same as the ones that cause cancer.
However, %STD testing% is still recommended for those who have genital warts. Being diagnosed with a genital wart means that you were exposed to at least one STD during a sexual encounter, and it’s very common for a single encounter to transmit more than one STD. This is why the presence of a genital wart means you should be tested for other STDs.
%STD testing in Singapore% is recommended for sexually active young adults at least once a year. For certain groups, testing may be recommended more often. When you come for your STD testing, you can find out how often you should be screened. Screening is very important, because some STDs cause significant health problems if left untreated, including infertility, liver damage, and even death. These diseases may have no symptoms in many people. Finding out that you carry one of these STDs allows you to get treated to protect your health. That’s why STD testing is so important, even if you don’t have any symptoms right now.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Genital HPV Infection – Fact Sheet.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 19 May 2016. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Genital Warts.” Mayo Clinic. Published 2 Jan 2014. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-warts/basics/definition/con-20019380
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Anogenital Warts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 4 Jun 2015. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/warts.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Screening Recommendations Referenced in Treatment Guidelines and Original Recommendation Sources.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 4 Jun 2015. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/screening-recommendations.htm
References
Genital at Shim Clinic, Singapore