Genital warts (HPV) transmission statistics:
Genital warts are very contagious and are spread during oral, genital, or anal sex with a person who is infected with gential warts. About two-thirds of people who have unprotected sexual intercourse with a partner who has gential warts will develop gential warts, usually within three months of contact.
In women, gential warts occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the opening (cervix) to the womb (uterus), or around the anus. Rarely, gential warts also can develop in the mouth or throat of a person who has had oral sex with a person infected with gential warts. Genital warts often occur in clusters and can be very tiny or can spread into large masses in the genital or anal area.
Information on gential warts (HPV) diagnosis:
A doctor or other health care worker usually can diagnose gential warts by an examination of a patient. Women with gential warts also should be examined for possible HPV infection of the cervix.
The doctor may be able to identify some otherwise invisible gential warts in the genital tissue by applying vinegar (acetic acid) to areas of suspected infection. This solution causes infected areas to whiten, which makes them more visible, particularly if a procedure called colposcopy is performed.
Females should also have their doctor conduct a Pap smear test to indicate the possible presence of cervical HPV infection or gential warts. In a Pap smear, a laboratory worker examines cells scraped from the cervix under a microscope to see if they are cancerous.
Most HPV infections do not progress to cervical cancer. If a woman does have abnormal cervical cells, a Pap test will detect them. It is particularly important for women who have abnormal cervical cells to have regular pelvic exams and Pap tests so that they can be treated early, if necessary.
Can gential warts or HPV be prevented?
The only way to prevent an HPV or genital wart infection is to avoid direct contact with the virus, which is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. If you or your sexual partner has gential warts which are visible, you should avoid any sexual contact until the gential warts are treated.
Studies have not confirmed that male latex condoms prevent transmission of HPV or gential warts, but results do suggest that condom use may reduce the risk of developing diseases linked to HPV, such as gential warts and cervical cancer. Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent being infected with genital warts.
More on Gential Warts (HPV) and Pregnancy
Genital warts may cause a number of problems during pregnancy. Sometimes gential warts get larger during pregnancy, making it difficult to urinate. If the gential warts occur in the vagina, they can make the vagina less elastic and the gential warts can cause obstruction during delivery.
Rarely, infants born to women with gential warts develop warts in their throats (laryngeal papillomatosis). Although uncommon, it is a potentially life-threatening condition for the child, requiring frequent laser surgery to prevent obstruction of the breathing passages. Research on the use of interferon therapy in combination with laser surgery indicates that this drug may show promise in slowing the course of the disease.
Current research for possible cures:
Scientists are doing research on two types of HPV vaccines. One type would be used to prevent infection or disease (warts, gential warts, or pre-cancerous tissue changes). The other type would be used to treat cervical cancers. Researchers are testing both types of vaccines in people.
Some Treatments for Gential Warts:
Podofilox gel - patient-applied treatment for external genital warts.
Imiquimod cream - patient-applied treatment for external genital warts and perianal warts.
Chemical treatments including (trichloracetic acid and podophyllin) - must be applied by a medical practitioner to destroy the warts.
Cryotherapy - which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze off the warts.
Laser therapy, which uses a laser beam to destroy the warts.
Electrosurgery - which uses and electric current to burn off warts.
Surgery, a medical practitioner can cut off the warts during a visit.
Interferon - an antiviral drug that will be injected directly into warts.
The above treatments have advantages and disadvantages that need to be discussed with a medical practitioner. Until a genital warts cure is found these are a few treatments that may give you much needed relief from pain.
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I hope this answers your question! Here are some websites you might want to visit to learn more:
From the Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/std/STDFact-STDs&Pregnancy.htm
From About.com - Pregnancy and Gential Warts: http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/std/a/hpv.htm