Genital warts have different treatment solutions. In this regard, we have asked questions from a specialist doctor, some of which are mentioned below. Here are the signs and symptoms and traditional and chemical treatments for this disease.
As societies change, the prevalence of disease has changed dramatically; In the meantime, sometimes the priority of vaccination of some diseases is lessened and other diseases are given priority.
Three decades ago, gonorrhea was the most common sexually transmitted disease, and a decade ago, chlamydial infections. But now in many parts of the world, genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted disease. Although there are no reliable statistics in the country on the prevalence and incidence of this disease, but Dr. Mohammad Reza Safarinejad, urologist and university professor, believes that the prevalence of this disease in the country is increasing alarmingly. For this reason, we talked to him to explain more about this disease and the vaccination program of different countries to prevent genital warts.
What is the probability of transmitting genital warts?
Genital warts are considered sexually transmitted diseases and are highly contagious, so that only once in a marital relationship with a person infected with the disease, the possibility of transmission is
It will be 60%. Although condom use reduces the risk of transmitting the disease, it does not reduce it to zero. The cause of this disease is a type of virus called “human papillomavirus” (HPV), which has more than 100 different types, and types 6 and 11 are the cause of 90% of genital warts. Of course, not all people infected with the “human papillomavirus” are infected with the virus, despite the fact that the genital area is infected with the virus, and their infection is hidden. However, they are carriers of the infection and can transmit it to others. Other types of human papillomavirus can cause cervical cancer in women. Types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers, 80% of anal cancers, 60% of vaginal cancers and 40% of vulvar cancers. These two types of viruses are also the cause of most cancers in the oral cavity.
What are the symptoms of this disease?
Genital warts are found in both men and women. Symptoms usually present as a cluster of warts. This cluster varies from a few to a wide involvement of the entire genital area and anus. In women, in addition to the outside of the genitals, these warts can be seen inside and outside the vagina, cervix, and around the anus. If a woman has visible warts on the outside of the genitals, she should also be checked for warts inside the vagina, cervix, inside the urethra and other areas near the genitals. Many vaginal warts are asymptomatic and sometimes the only symptom is bleeding after intercourse.
Is its prevalence the same in both sexes?
Yes, the prevalence of genital warts in women is the same as in men, but the symptoms are less in women. In men, these warts are usually found on the tip of the penis, but they can also be found on the trunk of the penis, on the scrotum, and around and inside the anus. In addition to its many health risks, this disease also causes social and family problems. Sometimes when a woman goes to the doctor because of genital warts, the doctor explicitly says that your husband has an affair outside the family and that the virus has been transmitted to you from him. The opposite is also true, and an infected man may be told he has been infected with the virus through his wife. This is the beginning of family quarrels that sometimes lead to divorce.
Although sometimes the lesions are very small and invisible or have a deceptive appearance and look like other skin diseases, unlike AIDS, they are easily diagnosed and make it difficult for a person to find the cause. It is easy to diagnose genital warts based on the history and appearance of the lesions. In this case, the lesions should be visible. To do this, the doctor soaks the area with 5% acetic acid and waits for 10 to 5 minutes. If the lesion turns white, it is because of genital warts. This diagnostic procedure is not recommended in women. In addition, today, with the abundance of information presented in the media and the Internet, patients’ awareness has increased and they can easily realize that they have contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
Is there a definitive cure for this disease?
With current knowledge, there is no definitive cure for this disease and no antiviral drug is available for it. Because of this, and because of the importance of these warts in the development of female genital cancers, especially cervical cancer, scientists have been working for a decade to develop an effective vaccine against this disease. There are currently two effective vaccines approved for this disease: Gardasil and Cervarix. These vaccines prevent the spread of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18. Gardasil vaccine also prevents types 6 and 11 up to 90%.
What is the vaccination program of different countries to prevent this disease?
The World Health Organization and US health officials in many European countries, Australia and Canada recommend vaccinating adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 11 against the virus, but only if an older woman has not been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. He can still do this until he is 26 years old. The vaccine can also be given to older people at the doctor’s discretion. If a woman intends to marry a man who has the disease, she should also be vaccinated. In Western countries, it is recommended to inject this vaccine before the age of sexual intercourse. Of course, if a few years have passed since the marriage, but the vaccine has not been given yet, women still benefit from the vaccine, but not to the extent that the vaccination was given before sexual activity, because these people may be exposed to some All types of human papillomavirus are infected.
At what age can men get the vaccine?
Between the ages of 9 and 26, but in Europe and the United States, vaccination of all men, like women, is not recommended. The main disadvantage of this vaccine is its high cost because it must be injected in 3 doses and each dose costs 130 US dollars.
What is the vaccination program in Iran?
Unfortunately, in our country, vaccination against genital warts is not mandatory and most people are unaware of this disease, its complications and the existence of an effective vaccine against it. At present, the cost of each dose of this vaccine in Iran is about 250 thousand tomans, while in countries that have included the vaccination program against this disease in their national program, insurance companies cover a significant percentage of the cost of this vaccine, because The cost of prevention is much lower than the cost of diagnosis and treatment of the disease and its complications.
I am not a health expert and I know that the recommendation for vaccination of a disease requires special studies, but as an expert and researcher in this field, I recommend that the country’s health authorities conduct a scientific study in this regard, because the tsunami of this disease may affect everyone in the country. .
