The ABC of genital warts

Abstract

Genital warts are amongst the commonest sexually transmitted infections with a lifetime risk of acquisition of 10%. In spite of this there is still widespread misinformation on the subject which causes unnecessary anxiety, (sometimes boarding on the pathological), amongst patients. This is more marked in females who are given the impression that they are sitting, (quite literally in some cases) on a time-bomb regarding the development of cancer. This alarmist misinformation is obtained from friends, the dreaded internet, but also, sometimes, from us health professionals It is estimated that 50-80% of sexually active men and women will acquire a genital HPV (both high and low risk) in their lives. This article will attempt to answer patients' most frequently asked questions