Anal Intercourse Can Lead to Anogenital Warts

Learn more about anogenital warts, these sexually transmitted lumps, caused by anal intercourse.

 

HPV can last for years without a single symptom.

 

What are anogenital warts or condylomata acuminata?

 

These are lumps which you get during unprotected anal intercourse with an infected person. They develop on the skin around the anus and inside the anal canal, on the head of the penis, on the scrotum, on the inner side of thighs, on the vaginal lips, inside the vagina, on the cervix as well as (possibly) in the mouth or throat.

 

What causes anogenital warts?

 

The virus causing anogenital warts is called human papilloma virus (HPV). There are over a hundred sub-types of HPV, but the viruses which cause anogenital warts are different than the ones causing warts on other parts of the skin. The appearance of the warts is different as well, particularly their softness and smoothness.

 

How do you get anogenital warts?

 

The principal way of spreading this infection is sexual intercourse - anal, vaginal and oral. Anogenital warts can also be passed on by towels, clothing, sex objects of the infected, or by giving birth. However, these latter ways of spreading anogenital warts are rare.

 

What is the incubation period of an infection?

 

It can take a few weeks, a year or even longer from infection to the development of anogenital warts. The risk of infection increases with multiple sexual partners, smoking and infection with other sexually transmitted diseases. However, most infections with human papilloma viruses don't cause problems and usually heal without treatment.

 

Anogenital warts can develop in the mouth or throat when a person has had oral intercourse with somebody who's infected. (jlp)

 

Do we have to see a physician?

 

It's recommended that men and women who practice anal intercourse undergo periodical preventive examinations of the anal canal, as anogenital warts only develop in the anal canal and don't cause problems for a long time.

Women also have to undergo the examination of the vagina and the cervix. It's recommended that homosexual men undergo preventive examinations once every three years, and in case of problems with the anus (itching, bleeding, diarrhoea and similar).

It's recommended that people who have weak or damaged immune system (HIV positive patients and people after the transplantation of an organ), which enables anogenital warts to occur more often and which makes the treatment longer and more difficult, undergo a preventive examination once a year.

Anogenital warts are a sexually transmitted disease, so it's good if both partners undergo an examination, and it's also recommended that they undergo tests for potential infections with syphilis, hepatitis B and C and HIV.

 

There's no cure for HPV, but there are methods to treat visible anogenital warts. (jlp)

 

How does the treatment look like?

 

The treatment aims to remove the symptoms. Larger anogenital warts have to be removed surgically because some rare forms are also malign, which may cause cancer of the cervix, the anal canal, throat, the penis and the vagina.

For milder forms of anogenital warts, Podophyllin has been used or freezing with liquid nitrogen. Because the disease tends to recur, monthly check-ups are necessary. For the most severe forms of anogenital warts, Imiquimod (Aldora) has been used.

Treatment for the sexually transmitted anogenital warts - condylomata acuminata - is long-term and difficult. It's important to reduce to the minimum the possibility of infection and passing it on to the partner. Therefore, prevention (safe anal sex) is of key importance.

 

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