Genital Warts: Recurrence Rates, Causes & Prevention

Genital warts are caused by a virus known as the Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV. HPV has no known cure and infected persons may develop genital warts at any time, or not at all. There are several factors that may determine the chance of genital warts occurring and recurring.

Rates

• According to emedicinehealth.com, recurrence rates for genital warts are over 50 percent after one year.

Causes

• Recurrence of genital warts can be due to reinfection through sex with an infected partner, persistence of the virus in the surrounding skin, and the incubation time of HPV itself.

Identification

• Genital warts can be small flesh-colored bumps or larger and cauliflower shaped due to several warts grouping together. They can be itchy and may bleed during intercourse, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Considerations

• Genital warts may appear suddenly during pregnancy, according to emdicinehealth.com, and can lead to delivery difficulties and infant infections if untreated.

Prevention/Solution

• Genital warts may be treated with topical solutions and cryosurgery (freezing). Recurrence rates may be affected by how completely the HPV-infected tissue was removed.