Female Genital warts are the cause of Human Papillomavirus, or HPV and is a very common sexually transmitted infection - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  estimated that in the USA alone over 20 million women are affected by this infection. Genital warts, also known as HPV warts can affect both young and old people - and male and females. It may shock you to know that up to half of sexually active men and women can become infected with HPV - many of the people who are infected will show no signs of infection which helps to spread the virus as there are no obvious symptoms.

So what are the symptoms you should be looking out for?

Female genital warts can occur inside or outside the vagina, on the cervix, vulva or the perineum, and can spread to the anus. The warts present themselves in a variety of forms: red or pink swellings, flat, whitish, flesh colored, or like cauliflower. If you develop rough and bumpy skin with tiny fingerlike growths this could be HPV and genital warts. The warts can be in a cluster or you may just have a single wart. Those infected with female genital warts may experience itching or burning in the genital area, and pain and/or bleeding when engaging in intercourse. It can actually be difficult to see genital warts at all, which is all the more reason to be aware of the symptoms - and if you think you have them see a doctor at once for treatment, as they can be very infectious and spread out from the infected part of your body.

How do I stop getting Genital Warts?

Use a Condom! - now you should be aware that even a condom is not 100% effective in preventing the spread of STD's and Genital Warts - why? well because the HPV infection could be in an area which is not covered by the condom - however you greatly reduce your risk if you make sure the man is wearing one before you have sexual intercourse.

Another way of contracting HPV warts, one which is less known, is through having oral sex with an infected partner, there is a possiblility that genital warts could appear in the mouth and throat of the infected person.

Pictures of genital Warts

You may be wondering what genital warts look like. Female Genital Warts can appear in many forms. They can be flat, or raised bumps. They can be red, pink, whitish, or flesh colored. There may a single wart or even a cluster of cauliflower-like bumps. How female genital warts manifest themselves depends on the person and the severity of the infection.
Because genital warts can look so different, it is often difficult to figure out if it is really a case of genital warts. The Internet has a lot of information on the subject, though it may be overwhelming at times.

The following link has several genital wart pictures, most of severe cases of genital warts. Be warned they are not pleasant to look at, but they are a good source of information

• www.pictures-of-female-genital-warts