Genital warts and HPV ,What do you do

Genital warts look like small fleshy bumps or growths around the genital or anal area in men and women. They may not appear until up to a year after being infected.
Although genital warts are painless and not a threat to health, they can be a cause for concern and can be passed to sex partners.
HPV vaccinations are offered to girls at secondary school to help protect again genital warts.

What is human papilloma virus (HPV)?
HPV is a family of over 100 viruses that affect different parts of the body. Some strains of HPV cause warts on the feet, hands, and other parts of the body, while other strains are sexually transmitted and cause warts that affect skin in the genital area -- the vulva, vagina, cervix, rectum, anus, penis, or scrotum -- and in the mouth and throat. There are more than 30 strains of HPV that affect the genital area as well as the mouth and throat, and depending on the type of HPV involved, symptoms can be in the form of wart-like growths or abnormal cell changes that can be precancerous. The strains that affect the genital area or which can be transmitted to the mouth and throat during oral sex are the strains of HPV that will be discussed on this page.
When can HPV lead to cancer?
HPV is an infection which many people will contract, but only a small minority will have a lasting infection leading to cancer. This is because, in most cases, HPV (both low and high risk types) is cleared by the immune system. In a study of female college students, more than 90% of women infected with high risk HPV had cleared the infection 24 months later. The average time of infection is 4 to 20 months. Progression to pre-cancer occurs when infection with a high risk type persists over time and when normal cells in infected skin turn abnormal.
Infection with high-risk HPV types is a necessary but generally not a single or sufficient cause of HPV related cancers. Other factors which may contribute to developing cancer include smoking, nutrtional status, health of the immune system (e.g., HIV infection), and oral contraceptive use. Oral contraceptive users have a slightly increased risk of cervical cancer. This may be associated with lack of condom use when on the pill and lifetime number of partners, rather than any direct effect. There is insufficient evidence of a link to recommend discontinuation of oral contraceptive use in women with high-risk HPV infection.
How do I know if I have genital warts?
Like many STIs, HPV does not always have visible symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, warts may be seen around the genital area. In women, warts can develop on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the cervix (the opening to the uterus), or around the anus. In men, they may be seen on the tip of the penis, the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, or around the anus. Warts also can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person.
Because there is no way to predict whether the warts will grow or disappear, people who suspect that they have been infected should be examined and treated, if necessary.
How are genital warts treated?

Unfortunately, no treatment can kill the virus that causes the warts. Your doctor can remove the warts by freezing or applying chemicals. Some prescription treatments are available for at home use. Surgery or laser therapy may be necessary for warts that are large or difficult to treat. Still, recurrence remains a problem. You may need to return to your doctor for more treatment.