Does Having Genital Warts Mean I Have Hiv

Will Hpv Cause Health Problems For Me

Most HPV infections go away on their own and dont cause any health problems. However, if an infection does not go away, it is possible to develop HPV symptoms months or years after getting infected. This makes it hard to know exactly when you became infected. Lasting HPV infection can cause genital warts or certain kinds of cancer. It is not known why some people develop health problems from HPV and others do not.

How Can I Lower My Chance Of Getting Hpv

There are two steps you can take to lower your chances of getting HPV and HPV-related diseases:

• Get vaccinated.The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. It can protect men against warts and certain cancers caused by HPV. Ideally, you should get vaccinated before ever having sex . CDC recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12 years and for everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already. For more information on the recommendations, please see:
• Usecondomsthe correct way every time you have sex. This can lower your chances of getting all STIs, including HPV. However, HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom, so condoms may not give full protection against getting HPV.

How Are Hpv And Genital Warts Transmitted

The fact that HPV infections and associated genital warts are the most widespread STI in the world, demonstrates just how extremely contagious this viral disease is. It can be transmitted through oral, vaginal, or anal sex, but often, just contact with infected skin is enough. For women, the risk of catching HPV from an infected partner during sex is about 75%. In the world of STIs, these are very high odds. To compare, HIV transmission probability for a single sexual encounter is approximately 1%.

As mentioned, if you contract HPV type 6 or 11, most likely you wont even develop any genital warts if your immune system is properly functioning. But you will be just as contagious as someone who has developed visible warts. This is why if you suspect you may have contracted HPV, its always recommended to seek medical help to find out for sure.

Read Also: Can You Get Hiv From Dried Blood

Is There A Cure For Hpv

There is no cure for HPV infection itself, but there is treatment for the effects of HPV.

Genital warts can be removed by medicated gels or creams, or by surgical methods.

If minor abnormalities in cervical cells are found in a Pap test, women are usually asked to return to their health care provider in six months for repeat screening. If the abnormal cells are more severe, women go to a gynecology clinic where the cells of the cervix can be examined more closely . Lesions can be removed using surgical methods.

Treatment for men with HPV-related lesions other than genital warts varies according to the type and severity of the found lesion. If the lesion is mild, your doctor may choose to wait and see if it clears up on its own. If the lesion is moderate to severe, your doctor will likely refer you to have it surgically removed.

Herpesviruses Top Of Page

Breakouts of grouped blister-like lesions typically caused by the common herpes simplex virus are easily recognized. In people with advanced HIV, however, these may develop into chronic ulcers and fissures with a substantial degree of edema. These erosions may occur on the oral and genital mucosa as well as perianally their scalloped edge is the hallmark for diagnosis. A culture is helpful, but HSV IgG levels are generally not, as the commercial tests for HSV antibodies do not reliably distinguish between types 1 and 2. Since HSV-1 infection is endemic in the North American population, this is likely to contribute little. HSV IgM levels may help in culture-negative, otherwise confusing cases. Dr. Roth said that a Tzanck smear is usually reliable in experienced hands.

In contrast to herpes simplex, zoster is dermatomal. Although it is widely believed that the vesicles of zoster are larger than herpes, Dr. Roth contends that is not always the case. Zosters dermatomal pattern may be so vague as to make diagnosis difficult, but this, too, he says, is unusual. Prodermal pain following a dermatomal pattern can be an important diagnostic clue before or during the earliest stages of vesiculation. Chronic zoster may present as hyperkeratotic dermatomal nodules.

Uncomplicated zoster outbreaks should be treated with acyclovir 800 mg five times a day or famciclovir 500 mg three times a day, both for ten days.

Read Also: Does Cookie Johnson Have Hiv

How Do They Occur

Like other warts, genital warts are caused by a virus. The virus that causes genital warts is called human papillomavirus . There are many types of HPV. The types of virus that most often cause genital warts are called HPV-6 and HPV-11.

Genital warts are more contagious, or more easily spread, than other warts. They are spread by skin-to-skin contact. They may spread to other nearby parts of the body and they may be passed from person to person by sexual activity. The warts are usually first seen 1 to 6 months after you have been infected with HPV. However, you can be infected with HPV without having any visible warts.

HPV can cause changes in a woman’s cervix. Most of the time these changes are harmless, but sometimes the changes may cause cervical cancer.

What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Warts

Genital warts can appear as a single wart or as multiple warts in a cluster.

Symptoms include:

• one or more small, flesh-coloured or grey painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis, anus or upper thighs
• itching or bleeding from your genitals or anus
• a change to your normal flow of pee , that doesn’t go away.

Be aware that the warts may be difficult to notice if they are internal and that many people with the strain of HPV that causes genital warts will not develop any symptoms or know that they have it.

Symptoms of genital warts can appear weeks, months or years after you were in contact with the virus that causes them.

If you have symptoms of genital warts its important to visit a health clinic to have them checked.

Also Check: Hiv Causes Hair Loss

Risk Factors For Genital Warts

There are several risk factors that can increase your odds of developing genital warts.

Unlike other sexually-transmitted viruses, HPV is not spread by semen or vaginal fluidit’s spread by skin-to-skin contact. Even when a condom is on a penis, part of the skin of the penis can still touch a partner’s groin area.

Some of the risk factors for genital warts include:

• Unprotected vaginal sex
• Previous sexually transmitted disease
• Multiple sexual partners

It’s important to note that condoms lower the risk of transmission, but don’t completely protect you from HPV.

How Are Genital Herpes Diagnosed

Other STIs, like syphilis, cause similar symptoms. In addition to a physical exam, your healthcare provider will take a fluid sample from the blisters to test for the herpes virus. If your blisters are healed or you dont have blisters, a blood test can check for HSV-2 antibody, a marker that shows you have been exposed to the virus.

Don’t Miss: Does Cookie Johnson Have Hiv

You Probably Have Herpes But Thats Really Okay

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, 2 out of 3 people under the age of 50 have Herpes Simplex Virus 1 , more commonly known as oral herpes. Thats a staggering 3.7 billion people with a incurable virus.

But the thing about HSV-1 and HSV-2 the bad herpes is that theyre very poorly understood by the general public, and even by some physicians. So if the headline above seemed shocking or offensive to you, we need to have a little chat. Because if you think that people with HSV are icky deviants covered in oozing sores, youve got a lot to learn and you could very well be ignoring your own HSV status.

Heres what you need to know about the WHOs recent findings:

1. Yes, pretty much everyone has herpes and more and more of it is genital

HSV-1 is known for causing cold sores not real herpes, the STI that can cause sores around the genitals. This used to be pretty much true. In the past, most of the people who had HSV-1 got it as children, via dry smooches from infected aunties and the like.

But as people gained awareness of the contagious nature of cold sores, they became more cautious about exposing young children to a skin outbreak. That means more and more of us get to adulthood without any HSV immunity.

And even though HSV-1 prefers to live in mouths and HSV-2 prefers to live in genitals, theyre capable of swapping neighborhoods in a pinch. So considerate young lovers with HSV-1 can unwittingly spread genital herpes.

How Common Are Hpv

Although HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, HPV-related cancers are not common in men.

Certain men are more likely to develop HPV-related cancers:

• Men with weak immune systems who get infected with HPV are more likely to develop HPV-related health problems.
• Men who receive anal sex are more likely to get anal HPV and develop anal cancer.

Also Check: Hiv 1 2 Antibodies

How The Infection Is Spread

HPV is spread by direct contact.

• The virus can be spread to or from the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat during sexual activities. But warts in the mouth or throat are extremely rare. Latex condoms can lower your risk of getting genital warts.
• After the infection occurs, it may spread to other areas of the genitals or to the anal area.
• You can spread the virus even if you do not have any symptoms of infection or any visible warts.
• There is a small chance that a pregnant woman can pass the virus to her baby.
• Children can get genital warts from sexual abuse.

What Increases Your Risk

Things that increase a person’s risk for getting a sexually transmitted infection, such as HPV and genital warts, include:

• Having multiple sex partners.
• Having an impaired immune system.

If you have a high-risk type of HPV and are using birth control pills for more than 5 years, research suggests that this can increase your risk of getting cervical cancer.footnote 3 More research is needed. For more information, see the topic Cervical Cancer.

Don’t Miss: Does Nba Youngboy Have Hiv

How Can I Reduce The Risk Of Contracting Hpv

Just like other STIs, condoms can reduce the risk of HPV transmission. However, they are not completely effective because they do not cover all areas where the virus can be present, such as your balls or arse.

There is a very effective vaccine available called Gardasil, which protects guys from the four major strains of HPV that cause genital warts and anal cancer.

How Can Genital Warts Be Treated

Not much can be done against the underlying HPV infection. Thats your immune systems job and it may take up to two years to succeed. However, there are antiviral creams that are available by prescription, and can help you get rid of genital warts with about 3 to 4 weeks of treatment.Should these creams not deliver the expected results, or if your warts are already at an advanced stage , surgical removal may be the only option. Such removals are simple procedures that can use lasers, chemicals, and freezing. They normally dont hurt and dont cause complications.

Your gynecologist can tell you more about available medications and surgical removal options.

Recommended Reading: Can You Get Aids From Dried Blood

Risks Of Hpv Virus In Men

Some of the 30 or so types of HPV associated with genital cancers can lead to cancer of the anus or penis in men. Both of these cancer types are rare. In those with a healthy immune system, they are even rarer. About 1,530 men in the U.S. were diagnosed with cancer of the penis in 2006, according to American Cancer Society estimates. About 1,910 men got a diagnosis of anal cancer.

The risk of anal cancer is about 17 times higher in sexually active gay and bisexual men than in men who have sex only with women. Men who have HIV are also at higher risk of getting this cancer.

Other types of HPV virus rarely cause cancer in men, but they do cause genital warts. At a given point in time, about 1% of sexually active men in the U.S. will have genital warts.

read more: Flat Warts: Types, Treatments, Diagnosis, and Outcome

How Can I Be Treated For Hpv

There is no cure for the HPV virus itself. However, genital and anal warts can be treated if and when they pop up. Without treatment, warts can stay the same, go away on their own, or get worse. Whether or not you treat them is totally up to you . However, if left untreated, warts can increase in numbers and become harder to get rid of.

Doctors can prescribe special paints or creams that can remove warts, and sometimes doctors will freeze or burn the warts. However, warts can come back. Sometimes, several treatments are needed before they go away completely.

Don’t Miss: Can You Get Hiv Without Ejaculation

What Causes Genital Herpes How Does It Spread

The herpes viruses enter the skin or mucous membrane through tiny, even microscopic, breaks in the tissue when there is skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Because an infected person may spread the disease even when he or she does not have signs or symptoms of herpes, avoiding sexual contact with someone with active blisters does not guarantee protection against the infection. Even normal appearing skin can spread the infection. Clothing that touches genital skin ulcers may transmit herpes simplex virus to others that wear the clothing.

The average incubation period after exposure is 4 days, but symptoms may develop anywhere from 2 to 12 days after you have been exposed to the virus.

Individual outbreaks of herpes vary among affected people in terms of their frequency and severity. Outbreaks can be related to the function of the immune system and are typically worse in cases in which the immune system is suppressed. For example, at times of physical or emotional stress, during illness, or when taking certain medications, genital herpes outbreaks may be more likely.

Dont Miss: How To Tell If You Have Herpes Or Not

Folliculitis Top Of Page

The itchy, red bumps HIV-positive patients bewail are likely the swollen papules of folliculitis, which can appear anywhere on the skin. Dr. Roth considers the conditions usual nameeosinophilic folliculitisinaccurate he prefers atypical folliculitis, since it can have a variety of causes. If you biopsy the folliculitis, you may find no distinguishing features whatsoever, he explained. On occasion you will find an overgrowth of pityrosporum-type yeasts, Demodex mites or other microorganisms. I suspect that many cases of atypical folliculitis represent a hypersensitivity reaction to normal microscopic residents of human skin. Accordingly, he recommends that therapy target the problem-causing microorganism. Eurax works well in some cases, antifungals or Flagyl in others, he said. Though its effects are only temporary, ultraviolet B radiation has proved useful, as has Accutane, an anti-acne retinoid that makes the chemical environment of the sebaceous gland less hospitable to the microorganism.

Read Also: Does Hiv Cause Hair Loss

What Do I Need To Know About Dating With Herpes

Some people feel like their love lives are over when they find out they have herpes, but its just not true. People with herpes have romantic and sexual relationships with each other, or with partners who dont have herpes.

Talking about STDs isnt the most fun conversation youll ever have. But its super important to always tell partners if you have herpes, so you can help prevent it from spreading.

Theres no one way to talk about having an STD, but here are some tips that may help:

Tell your past partners too, so they can get tested.

How Is Hpv Transmitted

There are many different strains of HPV, however only some strains of HPV cause genital or anal warts and in some cases anal cancer.

While carrying HPV is fairly common, only about 10% of guys who have HPV will ever develop visible warts.

HPV is passed on from skin to skin contact, anal sex and occasionally via oral sex. HPV can be transmitted even when there are no visible warts, however having visible warts makes transmission more likely.

You May Like: Does Nba Youngboy Have An Std

How Has My Partner Caught Genital Herpes

Genital herpes can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected blister or sore, usually through sexual contact. It can also be transmitted when there is no symptoms present. HSV-2 infection is usually passed on during vaginal or anal sex. HSV-1 is usually transmitted by oral sex .

If your partner has only just been diagnosed as having genital herpes, this does not necessarily mean that he or she has been unfaithful to you, or sexually promiscuous in the past.

Your partner may have caught genital herpes from you. It is possible that you carry the virus without knowing that you have it since up to 80% of people who have been infected with HSV-2 have either no herpes symptoms or such mild symptoms they are unaware they have the herpes virus. So it is very easy for you to have unwittingly transmitted the infection to your partner. The symptoms of the infection vary greatly between individuals it might be totally unnoticeable in you but cause severe blistering in your partner.

Since the genital herpes virus can be transmitted through oral sex as well as vaginal sex, it is also possible that your partner caught the virus from a cold sore on your mouth or face. Remember, it is possible you can pass the herpes virus on even if you didnt have a cold sore present at the time of contact.