The number of people with condyloma, or genital warts, as they are more familiarly called, has increased dramatically over the past decade. The disease is more common than herpes, with over 1 million new cases of genital warts reported in the United States last year. Condyloma are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), however many more people are infected with the virus than have warts. Most HPV infections are sexually transmitted and pose a serious health risk to both the infected individual and his or her sexual partner. A complicating factor is the variable incubation period (time for contact to appearance of the wart), which may range from a few weeks to several months.

Human papilloma virus is a heterogeneous family of at least 50 distinct types of viruses, which contain DNA. HPV types 6 and 11 are associated most often with the development of genital warts. HPV types 16, 18, 31, and 33 have been identified in 60% of the cases of women who develop cervical cancer. It is because of this cancer potential that sexual partners of women with abnormal PAP smears of their cervix are screened for genital warts. Researchers, however, do not know how the HPV infection may interact with an abnormal PAP smear. Thus, men whose sexual partners have either cervical Condyloma or abnormal PAP smears ("dysplasia") are now being evaluated for HPV infections. Condyloma can either be seen with the naked eye or identified by soaking the genital area with 5% acetic acid (vinegar) and then inspecting it with good light and magnification. Acetic acid will stain the skin white where the virus may be present but no obvious lesion has developed - this is called 'subclinical' condyloma. However, other dermatologic conditions can also cause the skin to stain white. Condyloma can also be found in the opening of the urethra (tube that carries urine), and a urine sample should be evaluated for abnormal cells. It is recommended that a biopsy of a penile lesion be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to identity the HPV type.

Men with a small number of warts can be treated in the office with a Nd:YAG laser and local anesthesia. Other treatment options include application of Condylox solution at home or frequent injections of alpha-interferon. Cure rates range from 4~80%; recurrences may result from new lesions in adjacent areas (latent HP\/). If there are extensive areas of Condyloma or frequent recurrences, then a cream (5-fluorouracil) may be necessary in addition to laser therapy. While the areas are healing from laser surgery, Bacitracin or Neosporin ointment should be applied. A condom should be worn always during intercourse to prevent reinfection, and you should return in three months for a follow-up examination.

urologychannel provides more information on condyloma.

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