You have probably noticed some winny-tiny flesh-colored or gray growths around your genital area and anal area. No? Okay, maybe you know a guy or a belle who has had them. These are most probably genital warts. Now, you must be wondering, what are genital warts? Genital warts are sometimes referred to as condyloma acuminata (hard, huh?), you can also call them venereal warts.
They are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and are caused by a virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Here’s how you can get them. You can get genital warts by unprotected oral, vaginal, and anal sex. If you have sexual contact (with someone who has these warts), chances are high that you will develop them within three months or at least that’s when the signs and symptoms will kick in.
Also, you can get the virus by sharing sex toys with someone who has no warts but is infected by the human papillomavirus.
And this is how you can’t get them. By sharing baths, towels, cups, or cutlery. Nor can you get it from swimming pools or toilet seats.
They affect both men and women. Therefore do not be fooled that only men get them.
That’s not all. They can occur at any age (if you are reading this, you are a candidate for genital warts, you are never too young or too old to get them).
They are contagious. Straight up, if you have unprotected sex with someone someone who has them makes you prone to getting them.
You know what’s shocking? In children younger than three years of age, genital warts are thought to be transmitted by nonsexual methods such as direct skin contact.
The symptoms. Bruh, you will probably have itching, a painless bump (like a swelling around your genitals) or have an unusual discharge (you should be in a doctor’s office by the time this happens
How do you protect yourself from genital warts? Use male or female condom and dental dam (Google this) every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex. If you are having sex with multiple partners, it’s even more important to use condoms and have regular STI tests.
Friend, if you have genital warts, avoid rubbing or touching the wart to avoid spreading the infection to the surrounding area.
Do you have any sexual reproductive health challenge(s)? Speak to our SAUTIplus Ssenga. Contact us via our WhatsApp Channel +256414697037
