Condyloma

Information

CONDYLOMA

Condyloma, called also venereal warts or genital warts, is a frequent lesion, sexually transmitted.  One of ten people have had condyloma at least once in their life. Condyloma have been known in medicine long ago. They have been described by the physicians in Ancient Greece. Hippocrates called them “sexual warts”

What condyloma is obtained from?

Genital warts (condyloma) is caused by viruses (Human Papilloma Virus - HPV). There are many types of these viruses and some of them cause warts on the hands and prickles on the soles. About 30 types of HPV virus are transferred by sexual contact and may lead to development of condyloma in genital region and around anus.

How does condyloma look like?

It is pale pink, softy single or multiple warts with the colour of the surrounding tissue, with grainy, resembling cauliflower surface. Usually it is painless. Warts surface is raised and grow as nests. Condyloma may reach big size and in some cases it is infected, emits strong unpleasant odour, erythema and inflammation of skin.

Peculiarities of HPV condyloma infections

At infection, HPV infection for indefinite time may be in latent (sleeping) status. The virus may be located deeply into the skin and mucosa but on the surface it can not be noticed. In most cases, the virus remains in the skin at inactive status, but may be transmitted to the sexual partners. The time from the infection with the virus to development of warts is usually 1 to 5 months, but in some cases the warts may develop years after contact with the infected person. Due to its long latent period and the fact, that in some cases in women it may develop in the internal genitals, where can not be seen, condyloma is transmitted easy at sexual contact, although using preservatives.

What are the peculiarities of condyloma?

Condyloma in men appears on the penis, in the very urinal canal, about and in anus. They predispose to skin cancer.

In women, condyloma is located in pudental area (in the region of clitoris, on the small lips of the pudenta, rarely on the big lips of the pudenta, in vagina, uterine neck), in the vagina orifice, urethra (through which flows urine from urinary bladder) and nearby or in anus. Condyloma is rare in the throat. Very dangerous is the affection of uterine neck because it is found that the infection with human papilloma virus is a risky factor for uterine neck cancer.

Infection mode

Condyloma is transmitted by vaginal, oral and anal sex as well as by direct skin contact. It develops within 3 weeks by sexual contact, but infection may appear after years too, depending on the status of immune system. The pregnant HPV-infected woman, may transmit the virus to the baby. Condyloma in throat and nasopharynx are described in HPV-infected babies.

How can I understand if I have condyloma?

If you are in doubt for sexually transmitted condyloma, you have to consult a physician. In most cases, the diagnosis may be placed at complete medical examination of genitals.

How to prevent the infection?

Abstaining from sexual contacts is recommended till elimination of condyloma, use of preservatives. Successful treatment and the absence of visible warts on genitals reduces the possibility to transmit the virus from one person to another one. The probability of condyloma infection increases with the number of sexual partners.

How condyloma is treated?

No method for complete destruction of HPV by medicines is ascertained. It is found that in good immune system, the person alone can fight the virus. The selection of therapeutic means depends on the number, size and location of warts. They may be treated by creams or solutions, applied onto condyloma by a definite scheme.

When condyloma is not influenced by the applied treatment or they are too big, then surgical methods are applied. Operation by experienced surgeon is compulsory.

Heating by electricity (electrocauterization), laser ray or classic surgery are applied under anesthesia. Condyloma treatment is difficult and should be taken into account that it is possible after being eliminated to appear once again. This is due to a new infection or reduced immunity of organism. The necessary condition to exclude new infection is to have an exam by a specialist and to treat all sexual partners of the patient.