Genital warts (anogenital warts, venereal warts, and anal warts) is a disease that highly contagious and is transmitted sexually by some human papillomavirus (HPV). This disease is contracted through direct skin-to-skin contact during anal, genital or oral sex with a partner that is infected. Genital warts are the most easily recognised symptom of HPV infection. They can be caused by a plethora of HPV strains, with types 11 and 6 being the most responsible for genital warts cases.

The virus that causes genital warts is called human papillomavirus (HPV). There are around 100 strains of HPV but only 30 of these can infect the genital area. These strains are called genital HPV, which can infect about 50 percent of men and women who are sexually active.

There are two types of HPV: high-risk and low-risk. High-risk types of HPV can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, anus, penis or throat. They are not related to those that cause genital warts. Type 16 of HPV is related to around 50 percent of all cervical cancer cases. Types 16, 18, 31, and 45 all together are responsible for 80 percent of cases.

Low-risk types are those that lead to genital warts. Specifically, around 90 percent of genital warts cases result from types 6 and 11 of HPV. Low-risk types are often difficult to detect because they don’t exhibit any symptoms. A lot of people are carriers of low-risk HPV but they remain unaware of it. Because of this, the risk of transmitting them is higher. Thus, it would be best to have regular check-ups in order to find out whether you have the virus.

Genital Warts in Men

In men, genital warts can infect the urethra, penis, scrotum, and rectal area. The warts can appear as soft, raised masses with a surface that can be smooth (on the penile shaft) or rough with many finger-like projections (anal warts). Others may appear pearly, cauliflower-like, or rough with a slightly dark surface.
Most lesions are raised, but some may be flat with only slight elevation above the skin surface. Infection with HPV may be dormant or undetectable, with some lesions hidden by hair or in the inner aspect of the uncircumcised foreskin in males.

Home Remedies

Make a compress of vitamin E oil and crushed garlic. Put the compress on the wart(s) and cover with a bandage to keep it in place. This will cause the wart to fall off.

Use a cotton ball to rub apple cider vinegar on the wart(s) twice a day until it dissolves.

Apply tea tree oil once a day until the wart(s) scab over and fall off.

Put a piece of banana peel (skin side down) on the wart(s) and adhere with medical tape. This will get rid of your genital warts in about ten days.

Rub hydrogen peroxide on the warts with a cotton swab several times a day until the warts dissolve.

Take sitz baths. Fill a tub with a few inches of warm water and sit in it for 10-15 minutes every day.

Squeeze warm water from a bottle over your genital area to provide comfort and cleansing.

Use a heat lamp or a hair dryer several times a day to dry your genital area. Make sure to hold the lamp or dryer at least 18 inches from your skin.

Genital warts diet

Eat a diet rich in folic acid and beta-carotene. Eat fruits and vegetables like radish, mango, squash, and tomato which are orange, yellow and red in colour. Dark green and leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage and so on are recommended.

Few Suggestions for Genital warts

Avoid cigarettes and oral contraceptives. Using condoms prevents transmission to some extent. Take pap test regularly.