Both genital warts and herpes are sexually transmitted
diseases – those infectious diseases that are
spread from one person to another through intimate
contact. They are usually known as STDs and have become
a serous health problem especially in young adults.
In the case of genital warts and herpes, it is not
even necessary to have sexual intercourse to become
infected. You can become infected with both genital
warts and herpes through skin to skin contact with
an infected area or sore.
What are genital warts?
Genital warts are caused by the Human
Papilloma virus (HPV) when this microscopic virus
particle infects the skin. If genital warts appear,
they usually occur as small growths on the genital
areas. They can be small individual warts or they
can accumulate into large groups of warts on the genital
tissues. If not treated, a genital wart may grow quickly
and take on a fleshy and cauliflower-like appearance.
If the genital warts are inside the vagina or the
anus or if they are too small to see, the first indication
of their presence may well be a painful or itchy feeling
in that area particularly during sexual intercourse.
However, it can take anything up to six months for
these warts to appear after the initial transmission
of genital warts from another sexual partner.
And often, they never occur so that you may not even
be aware that you are carrying the virus and that
you can transmit the virus to others.
What is genital herpes?
Genital herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus
(HSV) and once you have the condition, there are often
recurring outbreaks. During such outbreaks, there
may be a rash together with painful and itchy blisters
on the affected area or tender lumps on the groin.
The initial outbreak is usually the worst and may
well be accompanied by swollen glands, a fever or
headache and a general run down feeling. There may
be a burning sensation when urinating. Usually it
takes up to 3 weeks for the first symptoms to appear
but the virus can lie dormant in your system for many
years. Sometimes before an outbreak occurs, you may
have some warning signs such as a tingling, burning
or itching feeling in the area where the sores will
later appear. Herpes will always have the same symptoms
for each outbreak but the actual pain and number of
sores should lessen each time an outbreak occurs.
What is the difference between genital warts
and herpes?
Before we go on to the difference between genital
warts and herpes, there are many similarities between
genital warts and genital herpes such as:
o They are both caused by a virus
o They are both sexually transmitted diseases
o They are both passed from one person to another
by skin to skin contact
o They can both lie dormant in your system indefinitely
o They are both with you for the rest of your life
once you contract either of these viruses.
However the one obvious difference between genital
warts and herpes is that with genital herpes you can
feel very unwell when you first have a herpes
outbreak and will continue to feel unwell for
any subsequent outbreaks, which will more than likely
continue to occur. In addition, a further difference
between genital warts and herpes is that if you are
pregnant with genital herpes, your pregnancy has to
be monitored very carefully as if a newborn baby contracts
the herpes infection, this in turn can cause meningitis.
Treatment and the road ahead for genital
warts and herpes
In the case of genital warts, there are plenty of
different options available to treat the warts and
your medical practitioner will advise you.
In the case of genital herpes, most people can expect
an outbreak about four times per year. Infected people
can keep on re-infecting themselves too. There is
no cure for genital herpes but you can manage the
outbreaks and relieve genital
warts symptoms with appropriate treatment. There
is ongoing research into new forms of treatment as
well as possibly a vaccination in the future.
If you are suffering from either genital warts or
herpes, it is very important to start treatment as
soon as possible and in both cases, the only way to
prevent contracting both viruses is to abstain from
sexual contact completely or to be in a long-term
relationship with a partner who has been tested and
who is known to be uninfected. Although the correct
use of condoms on all occasions can reduce the risk
of both conditions, it must be a latex one and it
must be pointed out that a condom may not always cover
all infected areas. In both cases, refrain from sexual
relations until all genital warts or herpes sores
have been treated.
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