Anal warts and sex
The dearth of information on anal sex and sexual health, in general, have allowed a lot of misconceptions about anal sex to prevail. One of those misconceptions is that anal sex leads to anal warts. This article addresses the misconception.
What Anal Warts Is
Anal warts are small growths around the anus. Anal warts are just another form of genitalia warts. It is caused by the human pamillomavirus (HPV) and it’s sexually transmitted. That it’s a form of genitalia warts means that it affects other sex organs other than the anus. Thus genitalia warts can be found on the penis, scrotum, thigh, or groin of a man, and on the vulva, vagina, or cervix of a woman. Warts can also appear on the mouth, throat. So infection can occur through oral sex. The spread of the disease is through skin to skin contact. It can even spread through handshakes or hugs.
Anal warts is also not a death sentence, and neither is it life-threatening. While there are possibilities of it developing to cancer, it’s rare and unlikely. It is, however, important to note that while the warts can be treated until they shrink or disappear, HPV could linger in the body system and cause the warts to recur. The warts might be treated through prescription medication applied on the warts or in severe cases, surgically removed. Though it’s possible for one to detect the growth of warts around the genitalia, it’s not so with just the HPV, and this is why regular medical checkup is essential.
Prevention?
The surest way to prevent anal warts or any other form of genitalia warts is abstinence. Abstaining from every form of sex, be it anal sex, vaginal sex, or oral sex. Because not even condoms provide protection from HPV. However, there’s an HPV vaccine which it’s advised to be used especially before one becomes sexually active. You should speak to a doctor or your sexual health advisor if you feel the need to get vaccinated against HPV.
This piece aims at correcting the misconception about anal sex and warts. Warts cause discomfort and can be painful in some situations, but warts are not a consequence of having anal sex. You’d only get infected if you have sexual relations with someone already infected with HPV. No one gets infected with anal warts by simply having anal sex. The caution here is to be sure of your sexual partners. Having multiple sexual partners could put you at risk. So be careful.
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