Think you have Genital warts? Well, while you may be freaked out about the idea of contracting genital warts, rest assured you aren't alone. Venereal warts are the most widely spread STD in the world. Over 20 million people are reported to be infected with this disease in the US alone and the number continues to rise at a clip of 6 million more per year. The problem is that not only is condyloma (the scientific term) highly contagious and is spread through skin on skin contact but the hibernation time of this disease can be months or years making finding the original infector almost impossible to pinpoint.

The cause of venereal warts is the Human Papillomarvirus, commonly known as HPV. HPV is the same virus that causes all other warts as well. There are more than 100 types of the virus and while most are harmless (albeit embarassing), there are a few types that can cause cervical cancer in women.

These strains are known by their numbers: 6,11,30,42,43,44,45,51,52,54.

The biggest problem with the HPV virus is not only the incubation time but also the fact that most people don't even know they have it. Most don't or won't experience any symptoms and those that do may not see an actual genital wart for years

How to know if you have a genital wart...

A genital wart may appear as simply a gray or reddish sore. Sometimes they appear in clusters and are painful or itchy to the touch. You may also experience a burning sensation and bleeding during sexual activity.

Femail genital warts will most likely appear externally along the outer lips of the vulva and inbetween the anus and vagina. However, they have been known to spread into the cervix and vaginal canal and even on the neck of the uterus.

Male genital warts typically will be found on the tip of the penis, the shaft of the penis or the scrotum but can also be found in between the penis and anus.

Both genders can have painful warts in and around the anus as well.

.Another problem with genital warts is that sometimes they aren't visible at all or are so small that the visible eye can't detect them. In this case, you may require a doctor to use special procedures (such as acedic acid) to find them.

Looking to treat genital warts with conventional treatments?  Good luck.  Not only is a trip to the doctor embarassing but the medical treatment for genital warts is not only expensive but painful.  This said, there are some inexpensive natural ways to treat genital warts.  I will show you three of the most popular ways to treat genital warts.

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular ways to treat warts.  Treating your problem with this method is simple.  You simply go to the grocery store and pick up a bottle of ACV.  Apply the vinegar at night before you go to sleep and wash it off in the morning.

While this remedy works fairly quick (within 2-3 weeks), it has been known to cause a burning sensation that some people can't bear.  If this is you, the other option is to apply it 3 times a day in 15 minute increments.

You should notice a change in the size and color of the wart itself within hours of treatment.

Castor oil, which comes from the pant Rincinus Communis is another natural solution to treating genital warts.  The same treatment applies here as with ACV;  apply it directly to the lesion up to 3 times a day.  I suggest you mix the oil with some peppermint oil or some other sweet smelling oil as castor oil has an unpleasant smell.

Wartrol is another solution and the one that I suggest.  It is basically a homeopathic oral based medication approved by the FDA and treats both internal genital warts as well as the ones that are visible to the eye.  Wartrol works by triggering a response by the person's immune system, much the same way as Aldara.

There are two primary ways to treat genital warts...you can treat them naturally or you can have a doctor treat them.  I will discuss both methods and you can decide for yourself what method will be effective for you.

The natural way to treat genital warts at home

You have two choice to treating genital warts at home...you can either use a topical cream or you can use a homeopathic oral remedy that comes from natural herbal extracts.

The most commonly used cream based alternatives are Aldara, Efudex and Podofilox.  All three are gels and are applied to genital warts that can be seen externally.  The good news is that these creams will kill the warts very quickly..within a couple weeks.  The bad news is that they are doctor prescribed.

A homeopathic solution to treating genital warts is to use Wartrol.  This medication is all natural (comes from plant oils and other herbal extracts!) and will work on internal vaginal warts since the solution is taken orally.  Expect to see results within a couple weeks.

If you don't mind the potential embarassment of going to a doctor or dermatologist, then there are some surgical procedures available to treat genital warts.  These can be somewhat costly though and painful but they are the quickest and most effective way to remove genital warts.

1. Surgical excision is an easy way to get rid of warts quick.  The doctor will put you under a local anethesia and use a scalpel to remove the warts.
2. Laser therapy is another way to remove warts fast.  It is a fairly new science and the process is basically a high powered laser that burns off the warts and their tissues.
3. Electrocautery was once the most common way to remove genital warts before laser therapy.  Basically what happens is the genital warts are burned off using electricity.
4. Finally, you can have the wart frozen off with liquid nitrogen.  This will kill the tissues of the warts very quickly.