Warts are common skin abnormalities that occur in children and adults. They are caused by a family of common viruses that are known as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Warts typically grow on the extremities of the body - the fingers, hands, and feet - but they can also grow on any other part of the body, including inside the mouth and on or inside genitals. In these cases, such warts can be difficult to detect.

Warts are Contagious

Sexual partners can pass genital warts to one another. Warts on other parts of the body are not directly transmitted, but the virus that causes them can be transmitted from person-to-person. While there is no known measure that can be taken to prevent warts completely, certain hygiene practices reduce one's chances of getting warts. Wash your hands frequently to reduce the chance of receiving the Human Papillomavirus and growing warts. Other preventive measures to take are wearing sandals in public places (showers, pools, etc.) and cleaning wounds, which are sites that are prone to growing warts. Such preventive measures will not only reduce the chance of getting warts; it will also improve your health and reduce risk overall.

If left alone, many warts will disappear on their own and will not require wart removal procedures by a qualified doctor. Many warts disappear after one or two years, and doctors are not entirely sure why this is the case. In situations where warts persist, however, a doctor should be consulted. While warts are not necessarily harmful (except in the case of genital warts), they are cosmetic blemishes that can affect one's quality of life.

In some cases, warts can also be in locations, such as fingertips, where they become irritated. Wart removal should be considered in such cases. Wart removal should also be seriously considered for genital warts, which, if left untreated, can lead to cancer. It is difficult to detect genital warts sometimes, especially for women; however, regular exams by a doctor can catch warts before they cause more serious medical problems.

Anal Warts

Anal warts are a group of warts in and around the anal area caused by the HPV Virus (human papilloma virus); there are many strains and forms this virus takes. There as many as many as 100 different HPV strains a person can have as well as a few that can be transmitted through sexual contact.
The anal warts strain is known as "condyloma acuminate". Anal warts are small warts found near the anus which can be very small in size to relatively large or white clusters, they can vary in color from pink to brown to white.

Anal warts are just one of the strains of HPV. Some people who have the HPV virus in their system may one day realize they have anal warts, or one of the many strains of warts that can occur in the body. Not all warts are specific to the genitalia or the hands, neck and back, you cannot spread warts on your neck to warts on your anus or vise-versa. Different strains go to different parts of the body.

How can I get anal Warts?

Anal warts are a disease caused by unsafe sex in or near the anal cavities. People with many sexual partners become more likely to spread the virus. If you have the virus you will need to inform all of your previous partners as it can continue to spread. One may also contract anal warts from having the HPV virus in your system having never had sexual intercourse. Warts are most commonly seen in moist areas of the genital and cervical area.

Vaginal Warts

Vaginal warts are a strain of warts which can occur on a woman's vagina and in her cervix. Warts are a virus caused by the HPV virus which affects millions of people. Although there are many strains of the human papillomavirus, there are about thirty or so which affect the genitals and anus. Vaginal warts can grow on the vulva, anus and vagina and are raised red bumps or cauliflower looking clusters.
Be aware that some vaginal warts may be too small for the eye to notice.

How can Vaginal Warts be Caused?

Vaginal warts are a sexually transmitted disease. Those who have unprotected sex, or come into contact with a male or female who has vaginal warts, can catch this disease. Vaginal warts can also be spread from one person to another when that person is a carrier of this strain of HPV virus. In some cases, the carrier does not have warts themselves or show any signs of a vaginal wart infection in their lifetime.

Many women contract the virus from engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse involving the anus, mouth or genitals. Those women who have intercourse often with different partners, or engage in unprotected sex, are more at risk of catching the vaginal warts virus. Having intercourse with a man who has warts on his penis can also be a cause. Another reason for vaginal warts to occur in a woman is when she already has the human papillomavirus in her body but it has only recently surfaced.

Penis Warts

When men discover that they have become infected with penis warts, they are naturally worried and upset and start to wonder if they will ever be able to enjoy a sex life again. These penis warts are caused by a group of viruses called HPV (short for human papillomavirus). There are over one hundred strains of this HPV of which some thirty types can cause genital warts including penis warts. These warts appear as bumps or growths and can be flat or have a rough cauliflower-like texture. They are very contagious. As penis warts are not always easy to see with the naked eye, a person suffering from them will not always even know that they are there.

These HPV infections are very common in teens and young adults and the more sexual partners someone has, the more likely they are to contract penis warts. Unfortunately, there are often no signs or symptoms of the infection and so someone can be infected and pass on the disease without being aware that they have done so. However, some people do get visible penis warts. If they appear, they usually do so approximately two to three months after contracting the virus and they will be on the shaft or head of the penis. Sometimes these penis warts are not even painful or itchy which is another reason why many of those men infected are not aware of their presence. Other times there will be pain, itching and a burning sensation.

If you are already having sex or about to embark on a sexual relationship, it is important to be aware that genital warts (including penis warts) are the most common sexually transmitted disease. You can catch this virus or pass it on to other partners by vaginal or anal sex, intimate body contact and sharing sex toys. Therefore it is wise to know your status and a visit to your doctor or a STD clinic is strongly recommended for a painless but perhaps uncomfortable examination and tests. If it is found that you do have a HPV infection, your doctor or clinic will give you advice and suggest a course of treatment. Even when the penis warts disappear you must remember that the HPV virus is still there, though it may not spread so easily

Warts are small skin growths that normally look like a cauliflower or blisters, and are caused by an infection of the human papilloma virus or the HPV. Infection from this virus is extremely common, and that is why, most people develop warts at least once in their life. The blisters from the infection can appear as a single bump, but they may also emerge as a cluster. Warts affect both men and women and the small growths are seen almost all over the skin, but more so in the hands and feet. And even the genital organs are affected.

Warts can be further classified into different types based on their nature and where they appear such as genital warts, flat warts, plantar warts and mosaic warts. Though mostly harmless, but warts can still be painful – the blisters look red and swollen. They also bleed and ooze pus. So suffering from the warts infection is not a good idea. Warts are highly contagious and can spread from one person to another quite easily.

References
* www.fascrs.org
* www.gayhealth.com
* www.familydoctor.org
* www.kidshealth.org
* www.bbc.co.uk
* www.familydoctor.org