Venereal warts are also known as genital warts. They are transmitted through sexual contact. Intercourse is not necessary, because the wart virus, known as human papillomavirus, is spread through skin-to-skin contact. Sometimes their appearance is obvious, but it helps to know what to look for.
Location
Venereal or genital warts can appear almost anywhere in the pubic region. In males, they can be on the penis, the scrotum, under the pubic hair or in the urethra. In females, they can be on the labia, in the pubic hair region or inside the vagina. In both sexes, they can also be in the anal area. In rare cases, they can appear in the oral cavity.
Appearance
Genital warts usually start out as tiny, skin-colored raised masses with a smooth surface. Over time, they grow larger and develop many tiny projections, giving them a cauliflower appearance. They can become white or brown.
Size
One reason genital warts often go unnoticed at first is that they start out so small, less than 1 mm in diameter. Over time, however, they can become difficult to miss, growing to more than 1 cm in diameter and fusing together to form masses of several square centimeters.
Symptoms
Most often, the warts cause no discomfort. But sometimes, they produce itching and discharge. If a wart is in the urethra, bleeding and urinary obstruction can occur. If warts are in the vagina, there can be bleeding after intercourse.
Detection
Sometimes doctors apply a mild vinegar solution to the genitals to detect warts. Area infected with the virus turn white, though the test is not specific and the skin can turn white for other reasons.
Tags: genital warts, Over time, pubic hair, than diameter, turn white
