This is the most common sexually transmitted disease. It is
estimated that one per cent of adults who are sexually active
have warts in the genital or anal area. In the U.S. alone, one
million people will develop genital warts each year. Of these,
25 per cent will have recurrent warts. And that is frustrating
for the patient and the doctor. Genital warts are also called
condylomata acuminate or venereal warts. The warts are benign
and are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). There are at least
60 types of HPV. Genotypes six and 11 are found in over 90 per
cent of cases of genital warts and genotypes 16 and 18 cause
cervical cancers. The virus is transferred from person to person
or from contact with something someone has touched. In women,
genital warts can grow on the outside or inside of the vagina,
on the cervix, in the urethra or around the anus. In men, warts
can grow on the tip or shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, in
the urethra or around the anus. How do you get genital warts?
Most, but not all, gen