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Any sexually active person is at risk of catching HPV, and you don’t have to have had sexual activity with lots of people; you can get it the first time you are sexually active.  HPV is so common that most people have contracted it at some point in their life and haven’t realised.  From cold sores to genital warts, HPV comes in many forms and is commonly confused with other infections.

With over 100 types of HPV, some can clear up and show no symptoms, whereas other forms can lead to serious health complications if they are not treated.  Anyone sexually active is at risk of contracting the Human Papillomavirus; you can even have it if you haven’t been sexually active for a while or have had a new partner for several years.

HPV is one of the easiest viral infections to transmit from person to person; the infection can pass through simple skin to skin contact. One of the most common ways for HPV or genital warts to spread is throughout sexual intercourse, although you should know that wearing a condom does not always protect you against this virus as the skin can still have contact even while wearing a condom.

HPV can be contracted through oral sex, vaginal sex, anal sex, and through contact with an infected genitals. Due to the lack of symptoms shown by HPV, the virus can easily be spread from person to person without either person realising they have the infection. Many people believe that once they have contracted a lifelong condition like HPV, they can no longer date or be intimate with another person, but that isn’t true. Check out our blog on Dating With An STI now!

Although most forms of HPV display no symptoms, it is important to know what the symptoms of HPV are as this can help to receive the correct HPv treatment in London. When symptoms are left untreated, it can lead to serious health conditions such as cervical cancer in women; some of the most common symptoms of HPV include:

• Genital Warts – around the genitals of both men and women
• Common Warts – these can appear on the hands
• Plantar Warts – hard and grainy, these warts usually appear on the feet
• Flat Warts – slightly raised lesions that are darker than the skin and will appear on the face

You may never know that you have had or have HPV.  The only way to know if you have HPV is on the type of infection, with around 9 in 10 infections disappearing without showing any symptoms or causing serious health problems.  However, people with HPV that stick around can lead to severe health issues when left untreated.

If you are showing symptoms of HPV or have been in contact with someone with HPV or genital warts, be sure to book an appointment at our sexual health clinic in London.  Our appointments are carried out discreetly and you can trust that all patient information is 100% confidential.

While HPV is a common infection, some individuals are more susceptible to the virus and there are several risk factors including:

Amount of Sexual Partners
The more sexual partners you have or have had, you are more likely to contract some form of HPV.

Age
Common forms of HPV will typically affect children, whereas the more serious forms of HPV are more likely to occur in sexually active adults.

Weakened Immune Systems
Anyone with a weakened immune system is at greater risk of contracting the Human Papillomavirus.

Damaged Skin
Areas of the skin that are damaged or broken are more likely to develop warts.

Personal Contact
Touching warts directly or coming into contact with surfaces where infected skin has touched can increase the risk of infection.

If left untreated, HPV can lead to several more serious health conditions.

The main check for genital warts is for a doctor or nurse to look at warts. They may do this using a magnifying lens. You may also need an internal examination of the vagina or anus to see if there are any warts inside.

Very rarely, it may be necessary to take a biopsy (small sample) of the wart for closer examination. Depending on the area being examined, a local anesthetic may be used.

• There’s no routine blood test for the virus.
• How accurate is the check-up?
• Most warts are easily diagnosed by looking at them.

If you’re having treatment for the warts at a clinic or general practice, it’s important to return regularly for treatment. This is so the doctor or nurse can check that the treatment is working or advise if a change of treatment is needed.

Many clinics don’t ask you to return if you think the warts have cleared up. They’ll always be happy to see you if you want advice or to be checked.

You’ll only be offered treatment if you have visible warts. The treatment will depend on what the warts look like, how many you have and where they are. The aim of treatment is to remove visible warts. How effective the treatment is varying and depends on the size and type of warts, the treatment that’s used and how good your immune system is at fighting the virus.

Some people don’t need treatment, or they choose not to have any. However, for most people, having treatment is likely to make the warts go away more quickly. As genital warts are caused by a virus and not bacteria, antibiotics won’t get rid of warts.

Visible warts can be removed in a number of different ways.

Putting cream or a liquid on to warts (for a few days each week). This can usually be done by yourself at home. Some people ask a partner to apply the cream or liquid for them. You may have to apply this treatment for a number of weeks.

• Freezing (cryotherapy).
• Heat (electrocautery), using a local anesthetic.
• Surgery, using local anesthetic.
• Laser treatment, using a local anesthetic.

Some creams can weaken latex (rubber) condoms, diaphragms, and caps. Polyurethane (soft plastic) types can be safely used. Ask the doctor or nurse for advice.
Some wart treatments may be uncomfortable but they’re not usually painful. Treatments can cause irritation and soreness for a couple of days, so the doctor may recommend you use some pain-relieving drugs.

• Avoid perfumed soap, bath oils, bubble baths, creams, and lotions until treatment is completed as these may irritate the skin.
• Tell the doctor or nurse if you’re pregnant, or think you might be, as this may affect the type of treatment you’re given.
• Wart treatments sold at the pharmacy aren’t suitable for genital warts.
• There’s no evidence that complementary therapies can cure genital warts.

If left untreated, genital warts may disappear, stay the same, or grow larger in size or number. Over time, most warts will eventually go away without treatment. For some people this may take a long time, particularly if you have an illness that affects the way your immune system works, making it difficult to fight off infection.

It’s not usually harmful to your health if the warts aren’t treated but you may find them uncomfortable and may not like the way they look. Treating the warts may reduce the risk of you passing them on to someone else.