Mi.chi.eru's Guide to Genital Warts (What they don't teach you when you cheong)

[mi.chi.eru]

Frankly, I feel that there hasn't been enough contribution to the Sexual Health Issues Section and I believe that there should be more information abt the risks involved when anyone wants to indulge in sex (commercial or not).

This shall be my First Contribution to the section and will follow on by others. Sam, if you are reading this, if you warrant this to be a sticky, I thank you on behalf of the samsters. If not any samster reading this please post
a reply to keep the thread on top. Do not quote the whole post. Thanks.

Apart from giving information. I hope that this thread can help to provide support for our brudders out there who might already have it.

Cheers and till then, Cheong Safely!


Genital Warts

How do you catch them?
Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and can appear anywhere on the genital or anal area. Rarely, they appear in the mouth, throat or nose.


Warning - close-up image
If you'd like to see what a genital wart looks like on the skin, click on the link below. Be warned, though - this picture is graphic and you may find it disturbing.

Close up picture of genital warts 1
Close of picture of genital warts 2

Genital warts are passed on by direct skin-to-skin genital contact with an infected person. This includes:

vaginal or anal sex
close body contact
rarely, oral sex
Condoms can't offer full protection against genital warts, as the virus is passed on through direct skin-to-skin contact, and condoms only cover the penis.

Genital warts are very contagious and are spread during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. About two-thirds of people who have sexual contact with a partner with genital warts will develop warts, usually within three months of contact.

In women, the warts occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the opening (cervix) to the womb (uterus), or around the anus. In men, genital warts are less common. If present, they usually are seen on the tip of the penis. They also may be found on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, or around the anus. Rarely, genital warts also can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with an infected person.

Genital warts often occur in clusters and can be very tiny or can spread into large masses in the genital or anal area.

You can't catch genital warts from sharing baths, towels, cups, plates or cutlery, or from toilet seats.

Signs and symptoms
Only about one per cent of people with HPV have any visible warts. If symptoms do develop, it can be several months after infection.

Warts don't affect everyone in the same way.

Warts appear as small white lumps or larger, cauliflower-shaped growths.
There may be just one wart, or many.
They can appear anywhere on the genitals - around the vulva, penis, scrotum or anus; they can appear around the anus without you having had anal sex.
Warts are painless, but can irritate the skin.
Warts can develop inside the vagina or anus, or on the cervix.

The highest rates of genital warts are recorded for men and women aged 20 to 24, although sexually active people of any age can be infected.


Testing and treatment
Tests for genital warts shouldn't be painful but may be uncomfortable. Tests include:

a doctor or nurse looking at the warts
if warts are suspected but not obvious, a weak vinegar-like solution may be applied to turn them white
an internal examination of the vagina or anus to check for hidden warts
No routine test is done when warts aren't visible.

Genital warts are easily treated, although it's unusual for one treatment to be enough. How they're treated depends on the type, number and distribution of the warts in the genital area.

The two most common treatments are:

painting a brown liquid on the warts and washing it off later
freezing the warts with a spray treatment
The number of treatments needed varies according to the individual. Sometimes the warts return and require further treatment. This is because the warts themselves can be treated but the virus remains within the body. Pregnant women can be safely treated for genital warts.

Genital warts should never be treated with remedies bought from pharmacies.

What happens if they aren't treated?
Genital warts generally don't cause any serious long-term health problems. Not everyone decides to be treated and sometimes they clear up by themselves.

However, although most genital warts are caused by a different type of HPV to that linked with cancer, there's some overlap and affected women should be particularly vigilant about their cervical smear tests.

Nutrition and smoking effects on the immune system
A strong immune system is critical to fighting HPV or any viral infection. Most importantly, to protect your immune system, it is helpful to avoid smoking (tobacco and marijuana). Second only to chemotherapy, smoking is the most damaging health hazard to the immune system. If you smoke, you MUST stop smoking. I am reminded of the well-known Bible verses in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 in which God says: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.”

Good nutrition is important to support the immune system, so be sure to take adequate vitamin and mineral supplements, omega-3 free fatty acids, and adhere to a high fiber diet. The simplest way to get enough fiber and some omega-3 free fatty acids is by eating 10 tablespoons of freshly ground flax seeds per day mixed with orange juice or sprinkled on cereal. Flax seeds are available in most health food stores for $1 per pound. Use a simple $20 coffee grinder available from most discount stores for grinding the seeds. Start off with 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds per day and gradually build up, over a 2-week period, to 5 tablespoons twice a day.

Since HPV can be spread by any skin-to-skin contact, it may be helpful to wash your hands, before and after using the bathroom, and cleaning your fingernails with a scrub brush and soap. Herpes is not as easily transmitted as HPV, but good personal hygiene will also minimize the risk of transmission for herpes.

[sadsea]

bro mi.chi, thanks so much for ur post, nice day.

[lacoruna69]

Bro Mi.chi.eru,
Words dun hit u hard, the pics DO!
Me see the pics liao, didi got frozed on the spot.
Everytime want to cheong, think of the pics.....
must organise PCC club liao.

[mi.chi.eru]

Originally Posted by lacoruna69

Bro Mi.chi.eru,
Words dun hit u hard, the pics DO!
Me see the pics liao, didi got frozed on the spot.
Everytime want to cheong, think of the pics.....
must organise PCC club liao.

Well, if you kenna. lagi jialat.. *touch wood... anyway.. cheong safely. glad that you find it informative.

sadsea:

You are welcome.

[cuteboy12345208]

tks bro for the info

[qbdp]

Such posts of yours should be made stickies. You have my support!

[mi.chi.eru]

Originally Posted by cuteboy12345208

tks bro for the info

thanks for helping me keep the thread current.

Originally Posted by qbdp

Such posts of yours should be made stickies. You have my support!

thanks for helping me keep the thread current.

sticky or not.. as long have ppl like u help keep the thread up... its ok... cheers.

[tbkhor]

thanks bro. for the info, I appreciated it.

[mi.chi.eru]

Originally Posted by tbkhor

thanks bro. for the info, I appreciated it.

Sure! I'm just glad that another person reads it.. hope that everyone will be as well informed as possible. Cheers!

[mi.chi.eru]

Update!

For our brudders that think that have Genital Warts or HPV, you might in fact be suffering from Pearly Penile Papules or (PPP). This following is an update to my post. Sam if you are reading this, can you include this into my first post? Cheers!


PEARLY PENILE PAPULES:

Pearly penile papules are frequently misdiagnosed as genital warts but are merely a normal anatomical variant in men. They appear as small, dome-shaped to filiform skin-colored papules that typically are located on the sulcus or corona of the glans penis. Lesions are generally are arranged circumferentially in one or several rows.

Pearly penile papules have no malignant potential. They are not contracted or spread through sexual activity. Lesions are observed more frequently in uncircumcised males; however, the mechanisms underlying their development remain unknown. Pearly penile papules are noted most commonly in males in their second or third decades, with a gradual decrease in frequency with aging.

The incidence of pearly penile papules reportedly ranges from 8-48%. Several reports suggest an increased incidence in uncircumcised versus circumcised men (22% vs 12%, respectively). One study found an increase in frequency in black versus white men, in those circumcised (21% vs 7%, respectively) and uncircumcised (44% vs 33%, respectively).

Pictures of Pearly Penile Papules 1
Pictures of Pearly Penile Papules 2
Pictures of Pearly Penile Papules 3

[AXNpacked]

Suggest u collate all these info under 1 thread "STD"....easier to mantain lah...

I think I have pearly penile papules, initially I thought it is genital wart and wanted to go for check up. I'm relieved now. Thank for the info.

Anyway is it possible to get rid of it?

[mi.chi.eru]

Originally Posted by AXNpacked

Suggest u collate all these info under 1 thread "STD"....easier to mantain lah...

ok think abt it. thanks for the advice.

just curious.. would it be better for each to remain on each thread so that the thread only discusses abt the specific STD... and ppl query on that particular STD rather than everything into one? please discuss.