*STI Of The Week! - Week 2!*

After a lot of consideration, I have decided that this week's STI of the week should be the second most common STI, which is.....

***GENITAL WARTS!***

Genital warts are growths, bumps or skin changes which appear on or around the genital area. Genital warts are the result of a viral skin infection that is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Genital warts can be spread during vaginal or anal sex, and by sharing sex toys. However, you do not need to have penetrative sex to pass the infection on because HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Condoms do not provide complete protection because it is possible for the skin around your genital area (that is not covered by the condom) to become infected.

The incubation period for genital warts (the time that it takes for symptoms to develop after developing an infection) can be as long as one year. Therefore, if you are in a relationship and you get genital warts, it does not necessarily mean that your partner has been having sex with other people.

The most common places for genital warts to develop in women are: around the vulva (the opening of the vagina), inside the vagina, between the vagina and the anus, around the anus, on the cervix (the neck of the womb), at the opening of the urethra.
The most common places for genital warts to develop in men are: on the shaft of the penis, usually just below the foreskin, around the anus, on the glans (the head of the penis), inside the urethra, under the foreskin, between the anus and scrotum (the bag that contains the testicles), on the scrotum.

It is recommended that you visit your local genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic (sexual health clinic) if you think that you may have genital warts. For information on how to find your nearest clinic in Suffolk visit the No Risks website.

While your GP will be able to diagnose genital warts, the staff at the GUM clinic will have both the access and the training that is required to administer the various treatments for genital warts.

Genital warts can usually be easily diagnosed by examining them. At a check-up, the doctor or nurse will examine the warts. They may use a magnifying lens to do this, women may also have an internal examination to help with the diagnosis.

Treatment for the warts is pretty simple; usually only a topical ointment which is applied directly to the wart, or by using a laser to destroy the tissue.

So it is all very well knowing about warts, but it's probably best to know HOW NOT to get them.. It's pretty simple, MAKE SURE YOU USE CONDOMS! Visit the No Risks website to find out more about registering on the Suffolk C-Card scheme which allows to get easy access to condoms, for *FREE*!!
For girls, you can also get the HPV vaccine, which is normally offered at between 12 & 13 years of age in your school, which consists of three injections that should ideally be given over a period of six months, although they can all be given over a period of 12 months.

All in all, if you are sexually active, there is a chance you could contract any STI, but the best way to look at it is to try and prevent this from happening, in most cases wearing a condom is a darn good start!

Take care and remember to look out for next week's STI of the week!