Genital wart

The genital wart or condyloma is an infection caused by a microorganism, the papillomavirus or human papillomavirus. The importance of this infection is that some types of this virus can cause cancer of the cervix. For this reason, papillomavirus control is essential and a goal of all national and international health programs.

• The genital wart is the result of an infection caused by the human papillomavirus through sexual contact.
• Some types of papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer, the incidence of which has been reduced thanks to Pap tests.
• The treatment is based on cryotherapy, laser or electrosurgical unit and is aimed at destroying the warts.

How are warts produced?

They are the product of an infection that is acquired through sexual contact. Man acts as a spreader or transmitter of the infection, but only develops condylomata. In contrast, in women, some types of papillomavirus remain in the cells of the cervix. Over the years, they can cause a progressive alteration of these cells, which can lead to cancer in this area. However, this evolution is infrequent, since 90% of women eliminate the infection after 2 years. It only persists in 5-10% of patients, and it is in these where the tumor can appear over time, between 5 and 15 years.

What types of papillomavirus are there and which are the most dangerous?

More than 100 types of this virus have been described. In relation to their ability to cause cancer, they are classified into high- and low-risk types of cancer. High-grade types 16 and 18 are the most common causes of.

What symptoms does it cause?

The genital wart or condyloma has the classic appearance of viral warts, that is, more or less cupuliform or spiculate growths, grouped on the genital areas, such as the glans, penis and scrotum in men, or the labia majora and minora in the woman. It is not uncommon for them to appear in the anal area, even in the absence of anal intercourse. In men they are easier to detect with the physical examination, but in women they may be more hidden in the folds of the vulva and vagina, and it is necessary that the examination be carried out by a gynecologist, examining the external and internal areas.

What treatment and prevention is there?

Treatment aimed at eliminating condylomata is based on destructive methods such as cryotherapy (freezing with nitrogen), laser or electrosurgical device. There are also cream medications such as imiquimod, which seek to stimulate the skin's antiviral defenses to eliminate the virus.

In developed countries, all women regularly undergo a gynecological examination in which samples are taken from the vagina and cervix, and cytology is performed using the Papanicolau test. These reviews have dramatically reduced the incidence of cervical cancer, but in less developed countries this cancer is still common and causes high mortality.

In addition, for a few years, girls have been vaccinated before initiating sexual intercourse with a vaccine that protects against infection by papillomavirus serotypes 16 and 18, and it is hoped that these vaccination campaigns will reduce the number of cases cancer in the future. Prevention of virus transmission is logically based on safe sex with a condom.