The reason is because female genital warts may sometimes result in transformation of cells that can lead to cervical cancer. So it's important to make an appointment with a health care provider and a doctor immediately if you think you have genital warts.
The virus that is responsible for female genital warts is called HPV. This abbreviation is short for human papillomavirus. This virus can be very benign or very harmful.
This is because there are many different strands of HPV. One of the strands causes female genital warts. Others are never seen and have no visible symptoms. They can go undetected for months and then disappear as the body learns to fight the virus off and get rid of it. Some strands of HPV cause cells in the uterus to change so that they become pre-cancerous. Over time, those cells may become cancerous.
But often these cells can be scraped out of the uterus in a simple surgical procedure with no side effects.
There is a new vaccine on the market that claims to safeguard women against HPV and the strain of the virus that causes female genital warts. The vaccine has not been absolutely proven to prevent HPV but may reduce your chances of contracting it. Speak to your doctor to see if this vaccine is right for you. You might want to get the vaccine if you are at high risk for contracting genital warts.
How do you know if you're at risk? If you have more than one sexual partner, your risk factor is increased. Remember, anyone can be a carrier of HPV or genital warts. There is no way to tell by looking at someone if they are carrying the virus. Other factors that put you at higher risk are things that put your overall system in a weakened state, such as stress, alcohol, and tobacco.
The reason HPV and female genital warts do well in the vagina is because it prefers to grow in an area that is moist and warm. Then, if the strain does contain the virus for genital warts, warts may grow up anywhere inside the vagina or even on the cervix itself.
Of course here you cannot see them and since they are painless, you probably will not know they are there. You will need a doctor to find them through a careful examination.
