|
Of course, by now you know what causes anal warts. Yes, it�s the dreaded human papilloma virus or HPV that invades the body to give you this disgusting condition. How disgusting? Well, just click on the pictures page on this website and see this condition for yourself in all its glory!
Knowing anal wart-causing HPV
There are more than 100 different types of HPV, of which, most are harmless. It�s these harmless ones that cause the external warts and, fortunately, don�t lead to anal or genital warts. However, about 30 types (1) are spread through sexual contact and are classified as high risk, which can cause changes in the cells of the opening to the uterus or cervix, or anus. Two specific types of viruses � 6 and 11 � cause 90% of anal or genital warts. The good news is they�re least likely to have cancer-causing potential.
However, there are other less common types you need to be wary of, as they�re known to be strongly associated with cancers, especially pre-malignant and malignant cervical cancers in women. For instance, HPV-16 is responsible for about 50% of cervical cancers, and types 16, 18, 31and 45 together account for 80% of cancers (2). For this reason, you�d be better off submitting to an annual Pap smear test that will keep you posted about this infection. Even sexually active gay and bisexual men will soon need to adhere to the recommendations of the Federal health officials and submit to yearly anal Pap smear tests.
Mechanism of invasion
It�s generally believed the viruses enter your body through sexual contact that need not necessarily be anal intercourse. Once you come in bodily contact with an infected person, the viral particles penetrate the skin and mucosal surfaces through microscopic abrasions in the genital or anal area. When they enter the body, they don�t cause infection right away. They�ve a latency period, in which they generally lie dormant inside the tissues. It takes about a month to 6 months for them to get activated and get potent enough to cause warts on the skin. This period can be longer. However, if you�ve sexual contact with a partner who already has these warts, you�re most likely to develop them within 3 months. This can be after just a single episode.
Why this infection is so readily acquired from an infected partner is because it�s highly contagious. You can get it during oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner. You can also get it by skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who is infected. In women, warts can not only occur in the anus, they can be present on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the cervix or around the anus. In men, they can also be on the tip of the penis, shaft of the penis or on the scrotum, besides being around the anus. In rare cases, warts can also develop in your mouth or throat, through oral sex with an infected person.
Anal warts are not only repulsive to look at they can saddle you with problems that can even lead to cancer. So, your aim is to remain ever vigilant against this infection and practice safe sex. This you can only do, if you care to know the many causes of anal warts.
