Genital Warts and Genital Herpes: In Singapore, genital warts and genital herpes are among the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Both are caused by viruses. Neither virus can be cured.
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Unprotected sex can lead to a number of different infections. While some of these are very serious and potentially fatal, others are less serious but may cause discomfort. Two such sexually transmitted infections are genital warts and genital herpes.
Genital Warts
Genital warts are caused by certain strains of a virus called HPV (human papillomavirus). (Different strains of the HPV virus cause cancer of the cervix in women.) This virus is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. The infection can occur on the genitals or around the anus. About 90% of those infected with HPV never develop any symptoms; they carry the virus and can pass it on to others without knowing they have it.
However, around 10% of people with the virus develop warts on the infected skin. There can be only one wart, although it’s more common to have several. The warts are usually small, but can sometimes grow quite large, and the surface may have a cauliflower-like appearance. They don’t hurt, but they may itch, and they may become irritated when rubbed by clothing or during sex.
The HPV infection cannot be cured, although the body will usually clear the infection over time. If left alone, the warts will be gone within 18 months in 80% of those infected. However, because warts are unsightly and may cause discomfort, many people prefer not to wait that long.
For those who so choose, warts can be removed by a doctor. In Singapore, most people with genital warts choose to have them removed. They can be cut off with a sharp instrument, frozen off with liquid nitrogen, or burned off with an electrical current; all of these procedures are performed under local anesthesia to minimize the discomfort of the procedure. Although the warts will be removed, you will still have the HPV infection in your body, so new warts may develop in the same area.
Another option is to use a topical treatment. These are creams or liquids prescribed by your doctor (some are available over-the-counter in the pharmacy). The medication is rubbed onto the wart several times per week, and covered with a bandage to help it sink in. These medications need to be used for several weeks for the wart to disappear.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is another sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus. This virus is called herpes simplex virus, or HSV. Like HPV, HSV is transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact. It can infect the genitals, anus, or mouth. Genital herpes in Singapore is common.
Within a week of becoming infected by HSV, small blisters will appear in the infected area. These burst and turn into ulcers, which crust over. In two to three weeks, the sores heal.
However, the infection is not gone after the sores heal. The virus enters the nerves, where it lies dormant within the body. Later, it can reactivate, causing symptoms to appear again. Over half of people with HSV will experience recurrences of herpes. In some cases, the symptoms recur multiple times per year.
While there’s no way to completely rid the body of the infection, genital herpes can be controlled with antiviral medication. These medications can be taken after symptoms begin to reduce the severity of a recurrence; these may be oral medications, or topical medications that are applied to the affected area. Oral medications can also be taken daily to reduce the frequency of recurrences; this is only recommended in cases where there are frequent outbreaks.
References
Genital at Shim Clinic, Singapore