Why do genital warts smell

The symptoms of HPV-related anal cancer include:. HPV transmits through direct and intimate contact, including sexual contact, for both sexes. The virus can spread from one person to another through oral, anal, or vaginal sex, or if the skin touches that of another person. People should consult a doctor if warts of any kind appear on the genitals or if warts occur that cause discomfort or pain. Roughly 18, of these cancers occur in males.

Compared with males who have sex with only females, males who have sex with other males are more likely to develop HPV-related anal cancer. Males who have a weakened immune system due to HIV or other reasons have a higher chance of developing HPV-related anal cancer than others. Males with HIV also tend to develop more severe genital warts that are harder to treat.

No treatments are currently available for HPV, but disease management can help HPV-related conditions and some of the symptoms. No routine screening is currently available to diagnose HPV in males. However, a doctor can often diagnose whether a person has HPV by examining any warts that have appeared. If an individual has several risk factors, a doctor may also swab the anal region for HPV. A doctor can treat the resulting genital warts with prescription medication or surgically remove them.

The surgical removal of warts involves freezing or burning them off, depending on their size, location, and shape. This method is known as cryotherapy. Getting rid of warts might not prevent the transmission of the virus to a sexual partner, however. If a person does not receive treatment for genital warts, they are unlikely to turn into cancer. More likely, they will go away, grow, multiply, or stay the same.

If HPV develops into one of its common forms of cancer, a doctor or cancer specialist will treat the individual with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy , and radiation therapy. Receiving vaccines and using condoms correctly during sex can lower the risk of contracting HPV.

However, condoms cannot provide full protection against HPV because it may be present in areas that a condom does not cover. Though no treatment is available, three effective vaccines can help prevent HPV. This is usually 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the size of the area treated. Cryotherapy may be done when genital warts are visible, growing in a small area especially near the anus , and bothersome. Cryotherapy usually is not used when genital warts are widespread.

Experts agree that cryotherapy can be helpful in removing genital warts. More than one treatment may be needed. The removal of genital warts does not cure a human papillomavirus HPV infection. The virus may remain in the body in an inactive state after warts are removed.

There are few complications after cryotherapy. Scarring is a slight risk. Cryotherapy for external genital warts can be used safely during pregnancy. Treating genital warts does not cure infection with human papillomavirus HPV , the virus that causes genital warts. A person treated for genital warts may still be able to spread the infection.

Latex condoms may help reduce the risk of HPV infection, but they do not protect the entire genital area against skin-to-skin contact. The benefits and effectiveness of each type of treatment need to be compared with the side effects and cost. Discuss this with your doctor. Kiley MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Most cases of genital warts are caused by HPV. There are 30 to 40 strains of HPV that specifically affect the genitals, but just a few of these strains cause genital warts. In fact, in most cases, the virus goes away on its own without causing any health problems.

Genital warts are usually caused by strains of HPV that differ from the strains that cause warts on your hands or other parts of the body. Any sexually active person is at risk of getting HPV. However, genital warts are more common for people who:. HPV infection is the main cause of cancer in the cervix. It can also lead to precancerous changes to the cells of the cervix, which is called dysplasia.

Other types of HPV may also cause cancer of the vulva, which are the external genital organs of women. They can also cause penile and anal cancer. To diagnose this condition, your doctor will ask questions about your health and sexual history. Your doctor will also perform a physical examination of any areas where you suspect warts may be occurring.

They may apply a mild acidic solution, which helps to make the warts more visible. Your doctor may also do a Pap test also known as a Pap smear , which involves taking a swab of the area to obtain cells from your cervix. These cells can then be tested for the presence of HPV. Certain types of HPV may cause abnormal results on a Pap test, which may indicate precancerous changes.

If your doctor detects these abnormalities, you may need either more frequent screenings to monitor any changes or a specialized procedure called a colposcopy.

This determines what strain of HPV you have in your system. While visible genital warts often go away with time, HPV itself can linger in your skin cells. This means you may have several outbreaks over the course of your life. So managing symptoms is important because you want to avoid transmitting the virus to others. That said, genital warts can be passed on to others even when there are no visible warts or other symptoms. You may wish to treat genital warts to relieve painful symptoms or to minimize their appearance.

Your doctor can also remove the warts through these procedures:. Hand and genital warts are caused by different strains of HPV, and treatments designed for other areas of the body are often much stronger than treatments used on the genitals. Using the wrong treatments may do more harm than good. Some home remedies are touted as helpful in treating genital warts, but there is little evidence to support them. Always check with your doctor before trying a home remedy.

HPV vaccines called Gardasil and Gardasil 9 can protect men and women from the most common HPV strains that cause genital warts, and can also protect against strains of HPV that are linked to cervical cancer.

A vaccine called Cervarix is also available.