Many people believe that genital HPV infections only come in a single variation of “bad.”

But this isn’t true — It’s actually a common misconception amongst many sexually active young people that genital warts is a “one size fits all” kind of disease. Truth is, there are many different strains of the genital HPV infections and depending on what strain you are infected with, your treatment might work better or worse than someone else infected by another strain.

It’s worth mentioning that 90% of all genital warts cases are caused by just two strains of genital HPV — 6 and 11.

An advanced genital HPV infection around the anus. Click to enlarge.

Genital HPV Infections Vary in Strength

Unfortunately, the human papillomavirus is a very advanced infection, capable of morphing itself into new strains caused by environmental factors. For instance, if there is a certain antibiotic prevalent in an infected individual’s body, the genital HPV virus can potentially use that antibiotic to develop an immunity for it, creating a “super virus.”

Obviously being infected by a super virus is not a good thing. Especially in cases of cervical cancer stemming from genital HPV, the last thing you want a virus doing in your body is developing an immunity to the medicine being used to fight the cancer.

Medical technology is battling these super viruses every day.

Merck & Co has released a vaccine called Gardasil that protects against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) strains, 6, 11, 16, and 18. The only problem is that the vaccine cannot treat the virus if it already exists in the patient. The vaccine can only be used as a preventive measure and this is why it is so important to get your children vaccinated before they become sexually active. The vaccine is approved for adolescent women and is also being tested on young men. Hopefully one day we can find a vaccine that will work on all people, regardless of whether or not they have been infected by genital HPV in the past.

What genital HPV strains are responsible for what?

HPV strains 6 and 11 are the two strains known for causing the majority of genital warts cases. Strains 16 and 18 are the deadlier forms that are notorious for causing cervical cancer. Nearly 80% of all infected individuals in the United States are under the age of 30.

There are tons of questions floating around about genital warts. We have a very popular page called Frequently Asked Questions about Genital Warts that lists many popular questions about the HPV virus sent in by our readers. Feel free to take a glance at it. You might discover something you hadn’t known before.

Genital HPV Infection means Genital Warts?

No, not necessarily. In fact, out of all the people infected by the human papillomavirus, only a small percentage (estimated to be less than 5%) actually develop the nasty cauliflower-like bumps known as genital warts. Scientists have said that a person’s immune system plays a major role in whether or not their body can fight off the virus before it develops into full blown genital warts. The weaker the immune system, the more of a chance the person has for growing genital wart clusters.

Protecting our immune systems from genital HPV infections

Send your question about genital warts to us and we'll answer it on this page!

Because of this, it is hugely important that we all take care of our bodies and eat right and exercise as frequently as possible. Even maintaining a steady diet can be the difference needed to fight off the genital HPV virus before it turns into genital warts. It gives you something to think about.

Already infected individuals are subject to the same issue. An infected person with a healthy immune system will suffer from less outbreaks and will have a lesser chance of spreading the virus to another sexual partner when it is dormant.

You should feel free to share this information with friends on Facebook or Twitter using the share buttons below. By spreading the knowledge about the types of genital HPV infections, we can help cut down on the needless infections due to ignorance in the next decade.

Have questions about HPV?

If you have any additional questions about how genital HPV infections affect our bodies, don’t hesitate to ask them in the forums or by sending us an email, or by simply leaving a comment using the form below.

wartrol hgh advanced provillus

Wartrol is a popular first choice for many people searching for a genital warts treatment.

Why does Wartrol have to be sprayed under my tongue?

I guess this instruction seemed a bit odd and unusual since he was under the impression that Wartrol was going to be in a pill/capsule format.

Well the reason for spraying Wartrol under your tongue is because under the tongue is the fastest method of getting the medicine to your blood stream, just short of injecting it. If you follow the directions properly, you should have no problems giving yourself a dose of Wartrol – which is supposed to be done daily in order to be effective.

Alternative Treatments

You should know that when selecting a genital warts treatment that’s right for you, you are not bound to a single product or medication. Quite the opposite, really. We encourage you to do as much research as you need in order to find a solution that fits your life and your budget. If you have any questions about Wartrol or any other genital wart treatments, please do not hesitate to ask one of the staff members by posing your question in the comment box below or by emailing it to an administrator. We answer questions 24 hours a day and you can expect your question to be treated with urgency.

Believe it or not, we get new readers every single day who ask about this particular treatment.

Looking at all the information we’ve gathered in the past few years, I think it’s safe to say that Wartrol is the most popular HPV treatment on the market, without looking at prescription medications from a doctor.

Helpful Wartrol Tips

Many people don’t know this but there are several things that you do on a daily basis that affect whether or not certain treatments like Wartrol will work effectively or won’t work at all. What do I mean? I’m talking about the things that you eat…

Treatments such as Wartrol and Wartamine heavily rely on your immune system being in great shape. Without a healthy immune system, there is no catalyst for the treatment to work as desired.

How Can I Make My Immune System Better?

A virus commonly found attacking poor immune systems

Don’t miss out something easy like this. If you don’t have the time to eat properly, don’t even bother looking for cures for genital warts because your body is just going to keep fighting off the medications and you’ll continue to waste your money on treatments that don’t work! You can completely reset your immune system in less than a week if you put your mind to it. Give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it!

Thanks for being an active reader of our community! Take care.

Sincerely,
David Christophe, Human Papillomavirus Specialist & Contributor

Post Updated: May 4, 2011

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (n.) are defined as “infections that we acquire from another individual through sexual contact.”

Microscopic view of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - Genital Warts

Grade school sex ed classes usually brush the basics about STDs and some interesting statistics are taught but they are taught at such a young age that many people forget what they learned when it actually comes time to need the information. That’s how it was in the past, at least, when teenage transmission of STDs was uncommon.

Nowadays everything has changed… Education of sexually transmitted infections learned in junior high school is important and relevant now more than ever. The age of sexual maturity keeps getting lower and lower and our next generation is at a huge risk.

1 in 4 teenage girls is infected with an STD

We’ve collected some interesting facts about sexually transmitted diseases that you might have learned about in school. For those of us who never received sex ed in high school, some of this might be new. When I was growing up, nobody had ever even heard of AIDS. Times have definitely changed and it is important that you share this information with your children so they understand the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.

1. There are over 25 different infections that are spread through sexual contact.

Each year approximately 19 million additional people are infected with an STD and over 50% of these infections are coming from teenagers and young adults, aged 15-24. It’s incredible to think about a 15 year old child becoming infected with an STD but it’s happening and we need to spread awareness. The trends these days aren’t looking good for the next generation. Children and teens are having sex at a much younger age than in the past decades and the number of teenage pregnancies has skyrocketed.

2. STDs can lead to infertility, cancer, and many other serious problems.

Genital warts (HPV) is the #1 cause of cervical cancer in women

When left untreated, STDs can cause serious harm to your body, especially in women, and in particular, teenage girls. The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), more commonly known as genital warts, is the leading cause of cervical cancer in the world. Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of death in women but thanks to new advancements in medicine, this figure has decreased in recent years. However, we’re not exactly in the clear yet. In 2006, nearly 4,000 women died of untreated cervical cancer. There is currently no cure for HPV but there are suppressive treatments available.

3. AIDS is not as rare as you think.

For many people living in first world countries, AIDS seems like a disease that’s far from home. While it’s true that Africa is the #1 breeding ground for AIDS, the disease has been spread to every country in the world and NOBODY is safe. In 2009, 2.6 million new cases of AIDS infections were reported and 1.8 million people died due to the fatal disease. In the United States, 26,000 people died last year. It’s time for a wake up call. In total, over 25 million people have died globally from AIDS since it’s birth in 1981.

4. Condoms do not always protect against STDs.

Latex condoms are highly effective in fighting unwanted pregnancy but their ability to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is not as powerful. Any sexually transmitted disease which is spread through skin to skin contact (as opposed to through seminal fluid) can be transmitted even with the use of a condom. Genital warts and genital herpes are amongst the most commonly spread under this condition. It should be noted that proper and effective use of latex condoms can prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

5. One in four teenage girls has an STD.

This last one should be a huge shocker for everyone. One in four teenage girls has had or currently has an STD, with genital warts (HPV) being the most common by a large margin. Numbers like this should make you sick. 25% of our school aged children are already infected by a disease that is preventable, yet incurable. These diseases spread virally so there is no doubt that the number of infections will increase drastically over the next few years unless we increase awareness.

Proper condom use can prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS

Statistics about STD Infections in the United States

• Chlamydia

  • Infects 4 Million people each year in the United States
  • Transmitted through body fluid
  • Curable with antibiotics

• Gonorrhea

  • Infects 718,000 people each year in the United States
  • Transmitted through body fluid
  • Curable with antibiotics although some strains are incurable

• Syphilis

  • Infects 31,000 people each year in the United States
  • Transmitted through skin to skin contact
  • Curable with antibiotics

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV, genital warts)

  • Infects 6.2 million people each year in the United States
  • Transmitted through skin to skin contact
  • Incurable

• Genital Herpes (HSV)

  • Infects 1.6 million people each year in the United States
  • Transmitted through skin to skin contact
  • Incurable

• HIV/AIDS

  • Infects 40,000 people each year in the United States
  • Transmitted through bodily fluids
  • Incurable

Preventing the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

STD testing through a doctor is highly important and saves lives

STD testing is the absolute most important thing a sexually active teenager should do at least once a year. Early detection is not only important to the carrier’s health, but also the health of the would-be unknowing future partners. I hope these facts about sexually transmitted diseases have helped you realize how much of a problem we are truly faced with.

Whether or not you believe in teaching sexual education in schools, you cannot ignore the fact that teenagers are the main demographic for spreading a sexually transmitted infection.

To help spread the word about preventing sexually transmitted infections, please share this page with friends and family and send it to others you care about. Together we can fight the transmission of STDs worldwide!

[Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Common search terms: facts about stds, facts about sexually transmitted diseases, std statistics.

Hello readers,

MyGW is going through its second renovation in just under a year. We did not expect to see as much traffic as we received last year so we did not plan for the worst. We have recently upgraded our servers to handle the surge in popularity.

However, we need your opinion on the layout of our website. We’ve been playing around with it for about six months now and we’re not really sure if we like it.

So…

What do you think about it?

Leave your thoughts below in the comments or send us a private email. Suggestions are definitely welcomed and we can take your worst criticisms too so don’t hold back!

Genital warts and genital herpes are both sexually transmitted diseases that are very common in the United States (well, pretty much everywhere for that matter) but they are actually two completely different viruses that spread through sexual interaction.

So what’s the difference between genital warts and genital herpes?

Answer: Genital Warts (HPV) vs. Genital Herpes (HSV)

Well, The biggest difference is that genital herpes come and go as they please whereas genital warts come but do not go away without treatment. This makes genital warts an extra big pain in the ass and herpes almost seems like a miracle (crazy, right?). With genital warts, you usually have to burn them off or use a homeopathic treatment for a few months before they disappear. There are many treatments for genital warts like Wartrol or Dermisil. You might want to check one of them out. With Herpes (HSV), you’re lucky enough to not have to worry about all that stuff.

I answered this question in a little more detail on the FAQ about Genital Warts page. Here’s a link to the question: Are genital warts and genital herpes the same thing?

I apologize for writing an incomplete page but I’ve just about ready to run out of the house. This page will be updated again once I gather some more information. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Have a nice day,
David C.

Page Updated: May 4, 2011

I got a question the other day that quite frankly shocked me a bit…

Someone asked me if genital warts were contagious. This was a young adult female speaking to me and I couldn’t believe she didn’t know the answer! “Of course genital warts are contagious,” I finally blurted out.

It’s astonishing that people aren’t a bit more educated nowadays about sexually transmitted diseases. You’d think with everything going around and the numbers constantly increasing, they would put more emphasis on this in schools.

Genital warts can be transmitted in more than a couple ways so I don’t really expect everyone to know every little method of transmission but I would at least expect someone to know that genital warts, are in fact, contagious.

Finding a proper treatment for genital warts is a tough process for most people. Some estimates say that nearly 50% of all American adults will encounter the virus at some point in their lives. Once a person has contracted genital warts, it is impossible to get rid of it entirely.

Genital warts treatments are all over the internet so how do you find one that really works?

Simply put, you don’t. Going to a doctor will only guarantee you an expensive prescription. Wait a little bit and we’ll get back to you with some genital warts treatments that actually work. Just please stay put — Leave a comment below if you have anything to say.

Many people think they know the truth about genital warts and how it works but in reality, not many people do. Here are three facts about genital warts that you might not have known before…

1. Genital warts can be passed through any sexual contact, even while using a condom, regardless of whether or not the infected person has symptoms of having genital warts.
2. In fact, most cases of genital warts involve individuals who are spreading it without the knowledge that they themselves are infected.
3. This is probably due to the fact that an infection of genital warts can remain dormant in someone’s body for months or longer and in this period they are still capable of spreading the virus to other sexual partners.

Finding a proper genital warts treatment is crucial to your success in coping with the virus. While you will never be able to fully rid yourself of the virus, you can make your life more enjoyable by being able to clear yourself of the symptoms in a short amount of time.

Please have a look around this site at the other resources. You can also sign up for our mailing list to the right if you would like to be notified of any upcoming sales regarding the treatments that we review on this website.

Welcome, friend!

We have created this page to answer ten of the most frequently asked questions about genital warts and the HPV virus.

Anyway, let’s get started. Below are the top ten most commonly asked questions we have received from readers just like you.

To begin, click on a question below!

Most Common Questions about Genital Warts:

1. What is genital warts?
2. How did I get genital warts?
3. Is the Human Papillomavirus what causes genital warts?
4. Can genital warts be permanently cured?
5. Can I spread HPV to my children accidentally?
6. What is Wartrol?
7. Are genital warts and genital herpes the same thing?
8. Will my genital warts go away on their own?
9. Does my doctor know what he’s talking about?
10. What do genital warts look like?

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Feel free to scroll through the Q & A below, one by one, or you can just click on a question above to jump straight to the answer.

What is genital warts?

Answer: Genital warts is a nastly little sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a number of sexual interactions with an infected partner. Genital warts is the most commonly spread STD and a shocking percentage of sexually active people are already infected by it. The virus responsible for your outbreaks is called the Human Papillomavirus or HPV. There are many strains of the HPV virus and some are more difficult than others to treat. In fact, in rare cases, a new HPV strain can develop an immunity to treatment and other methods of removal will have to be considered. You should know that this is extremely rare but it still exists. You can visit your doctor and schedule an appointment to have a bloodwork test that will be analyzed to see if you are infected by one of these rare strains.

How did I get genital warts?

Answer: Well, you could have gotten genital warts in any of about 5 different ways but most likely you contracted them by coming in contact with an infected individual’s genital region (including the anus). Any skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual can result in accidental transfer of the virus. You should also know that you can contract genital warts from a person even when they are not on an outbreak or look perfectly healthy. Occasionally, genital warts can remain dormant in a carrier’s body for up to six months before showing any signs of symptoms. In a sexually active individual, six months can mean fairly widespread exposure and you may have accidentally infected someone else without even knowing you have the virus in the first place.

Is the Human Papillomavirus what causes genital warts?

Answer: Yes, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is what causes genital warts in humans. It should not be confused with the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) that is known for causing genital herpes.

Related Pages: 5 Shocking Facts about STDs

Can genital warts be permanently cured?

Answer: No. At the time of writing this page, nobody has found a cure for genital warts just yet and the disease remains incurable. Currently, only treatments exist that can hide the symptoms of genital warts and provide semi-permanent relief from the virus. Fortunately, there’s millions of dollars in research being done every single year and with technology and medicine advancing at an extreme rate of speed, you never know when a scientist might discover a cure for genital warts! I hope to live to see the day when genital warts is fully eradicated and we don’t have to worry about this stupid virus ever again. If you sign up for our mailing list, you can bet that you’ll be of the first people to know if someone discovers a miracle cure. We follow the medical industry news very closely.

Can I spread HPV to my children accidentally?

Answer: Yes. You can accidentally spread the virus to anyone you come in contact with. It’s a scary thought but it’s the truth. This is why it’s so important to wash your hands frequently and avoid touching or scratching your genitals throughout the day. If you do happen to touch your genitals (even if you’re not currently experiencing an outbreak), it’s absolutely a MUST that you wash your hands with soap immediately. The last thing you want to do is have to live with the fact that your children will have to grow up with a STD and not even know they have it. By practicing proper hygiene, you can avoid the entire situation and forget about ever having to sit them down for an awkward conversation when they’re older about how you accidentally gave them your genital warts. Yikes!

What is Wartrol?

Answer: Wartrol is a popular homeopathic treatment for genital warts and the HPV virus. Wartrol is one of many products that utilize the powers of concentrated homeopathic therapy to dull and suppress the symptoms of genital warts. Treatments like Wartrol usually cost much less than prescription medications (which typically cost thousands) and can be purchased safely and securely over the internet with your privacy guaranteed. The company that sells the product has been in business for nearly a decade now and complaints are few and far between. From what we’ve gathered in the past few years, Wartrol seems to be the #1 choice for people buying non-prescription genital warts treatments. Treatment options start as low as $30/month when you buy six months at a time and cost about $50/month when you buy one bottle at a time. We invite you to check out some of our published Wartrol reviews in the reviews section of our website.

Are genital warts and genital herpes the same thing?

Answer: Not at all. This is a fairly common mistake that most people don’t know the correct answer unless they are infected with either virus and have seen their doctor for a consultation and have discussed the virus. Genital warts is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and genital herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). They are two completely different viruses that happen to affect the same regions of the body.

Related Pages: Genital Warts vs. Genital Herpes

Genital herpes are known to come and go as they please, and unfortunately for us, genital warts do not share the same trait. HSV infections are far more common than HPV and believe it or not, the majority of sexually active adults have already been exposed to the HSV virus at some point in their life. It is important to note that there are two types of herpes. The first type of herpes is harmless and is mostly just embarrassing. This type of herpes is commonly found around the sides of the mouth on the lips. It resembles an infected pimple except it doesn’t contain any puss. The second kind of herpes is whats responsible for genital herpes and that can be found in/around the same regions where you would find genial warts. This includes the shaft of the penis, the vagina, and the anus.

Genital herpes do not look like warts. They are flat and just look like patches of an infection or severe razor burn. Both simplexes of Herpes are commonly treated with medications like Valtrex (Valacyclovir) or naturally with organic treatments like Herpeset.

Will my genital warts go away on their own?

Answer: No. That’s the unfortunate thing about genital warts. Unless you take action, those little buggers will sit on your genitals for the rest of your life. There are several commonly accepted methods for removing genital wart clusters. One popular method is getting the warts surgically removed by a doctor. The downside of this method is that the procedure is very expensive and some people have reported feeling extreme pain during the surgery (comparable to a dentist drilling deep into a cavity… except on your genitals). Another method of removal is called cryotherapy which requires a doctor or nurse to use freezing cold liquid nitrogen to burn the wart clusters off of your genitals until they are dead enough to fall off (usually a couple days later). While many people say they’re not bothered by this type of operation, a decent amount of people have also said it is extremely painful and would not do it again.

Does my doctor know what he’s talking about?

Answer: Yes. It is always important to listen to your doctor. Only in rare occasions will a certified medical professional steer you in the wrong direction when it comes to something like finding a genital warts treatment. When a doctor tells you something about your condition, you should always believe him/her.

Remember: Anyone can make guesses about your condition over the internet but without physically examining your body, it is impossible to tell with certainty if you have a condition. Doctors hate it when patients self-diagnose themselves because it gives the patient a false sense of knowledge (and then if it ends up being something else, the patient will be skeptical of the doctor’s diagnosis). If you think you may have a medical condition or problem, it is absolutely important for you to speak with a physician who can give you real advice.

We at MyGW will never claim to know more than your doctor and we will never suggest you substitute a trained physician’s advice for something you see or hear on the internet. You should read all packaging and instruction that comes with any treatment you purchase over the internet carefully before proceeding with your treatment. Take note of any negative side effects you may experience while using the treatment and discuss them with your doctor for more information at your earliest convenience.

What do genital warts look like?

Answer: Genital warts have a distinct look to them and that is part of the reason why having an outbreak is so embarrassing. The warts grow alongside the shaft of your penis, or the edges of your vagina or anus. They protrude from your skin just like regular warts and can grow up to a half an inch tall. Living with genital warts can be one of the most uncomfortable things to do, especially if your warts are near your anus. They tend to group together in clusters of 4-6 individual warts and they resemble cauliflower (the white vegetable).

Related Pages: Genital Warts Pictures (NSFW)

The warts themselves can vary in color from white to grey, to pink or to just about any shade of red. The color of the warts can change depending on certain environmental factors like temperature. If you pick at your warts or they rub up against tight underwear for an extended period of time, the warts will probably be a dark red or almost purple. Warts that have been exposed for a long period of time tend to lose their color and fade to a light pink or white color and look almost like an oxidized battery lead. Genital warts can bleed very easily so picking at them is not recommended. When you scratch a wart cluster to the point of bleeding, you run the risk of having permanent scar damage that can be embarrassing. At the very least it will be a constant reminder of your infection for the rest of your life – We wouldn’t want that, right?

That’s it for now! Did that find the answer to your question?

We first started collecting questions from users to answer on this page back in 2010 and we’re pretty happy with what it has turned into today. By the end of 2012, we hope to have created the most valuable and authoritative genital warts resource database on the internet for learning about the disease and educating yourself about the human papillomavirus.

Does this FAQ ever get updated?

Yes, of course! This FAQ page is constantly updated (at least once a month) and we edit and revise it as needed. If you have an idea for a question that could be featured in our next FAQ update, please post it in a comment or email it to an administrator and we will be happy to help you out.

Page last updated: May 4, 2011

Future Plans & Ideas

We have plans to make more FAQ pages in the future but we need your help in populating them with questions! If you have a question about anything you’ve heard online or from a friend regarding HPV and genital warts, please send it to us in an email or comment using the form below.

Your feedback is important to us and we strive to answer everyone’s questions in a timely fashion. We realize that our website has been pretty confusing over the last few months. We’re desperately trying to make it better for our viewers like you.

So once again, thank you for your patience as we get everything organized! We really appreciate your support and we love you feedback. It’s people like you who make managing a community like this enjoyable.

Best Regards,
David C., Genital Warts Specialist & Contributor

Common search terms: genital warts faq, frequently asked questions about genital warts, common questions about genital warts.

Hello everyone,

Hope you have been enjoying this year so far. As you might have noticed, MyGW has acquired a new layout and I think we can all agree that it looks better than the last one – It is much more modern!

I’d love to hear your feedback on the new design so feel free to send me an email or message with your thoughts!

Take care,
MyGW Staff