Condyloma

In cooperation with Gilead Sciences

What causes the disease?

Condylomas, or genital warts, are caused by a virus that belongs to the group of human papillomaviruses, HPV. More than 100 different types of human papillomavirus have been described. About 40 of these are so-called genital human papillomaviruses and seek out mucous membranes, especially in the abdomen. Some of the HPV types that exist can cause condylomas, while other HPV types are the cause of cervical cancer.

How is the virus transmitted?

Papillomavirus is transmitted through direct contact. Unprotected intercourse is the most common route of condyloma transmission. The information today is that you are only contagious when there are warts.

How do you protect yourself against condyloma?

Condoms reduce the risk of infection provided that it is intact and remain on throughout the intercourse. But since the condom does not cover all virus-infected genitals, you can still get infected.

There is now a vaccine that protects against both the most common HPV types that can cause condyloma and the most common HPV types that can cause cervical cancer. The vaccine should be given before the sexual debut for maximum effect. Today it is mainly recommended for young girls.

What are the symptoms?

Condylomas generally do not cause any symptoms other than the warts being felt or seen. The appearance of the warts can vary. Sometimes they are skin-colored, small, and lobed. Sometimes they can be flat and difficult to see without a special examination. The incubation period is often several months, but sometimes it can take a year or longer before warts appear.

For men, the warts are normally on the foreskin, glans penis, shaft of the penis, in the opening of the urethra, or in the rectal area. For women, the warts are seen on the labia, in the opening of the urethra, in the opening of the vagina, on the cervix, or around the opening of the rectum. Regardless of where the warts are located, the virus is likely everywhere in the mucous membranes of the genitals and also in the rectum.

Not everyone gets warts from the virus. You can therefore be infected without knowing.

How is the examination and the testing done?

Condyloma virus cannot be grown in laboratories and therefore it is not possible to tell who is carrying the virus or not. The large typical warts are easy to see and diagnose. If the warts are small or have a different appearance, a microscopic analysis of a wart is needed.

Where can I have an examination?

You can contact a health care centre, GP practice, youth clinic, skin and vein clinic, or sex and relations clinic for an examination. Telephone numbers and links to many of the country’s receptions can be found here.

How to treat condyloma?

There is no cure for the virus, but the warts can be treated. It is usually done by brushing with a caustic solution. They can also be burned or frozen off or removed through small surgical procedures. Like hand and foot warts, warts can be difficult to remove completely and new warts can appear. The infection heals on its own after a few years, but it is impossible to say when you are no longer contagious.

How common is the disease?

Condyloma is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, but since the infection is not covered by the Infection Control Act, there are no reliable statistics.

What does the Infection Protection Act say?

Condyloma is not covered by the Infection Control Act.