Saturday, July 21, 2007

You Can Get Genital Warts From Foreplay

HPV is different from other sexually transmitted diseases because it is passed on through contact with infected skin. This means that it is possible to spread genital warts through contact during foreplay. There doesn't have to be any penetration for HPV to be passed on. Most alarmingly, even using a condom may not protect you from getting HPV. Only by completely covering the effected area can you ensure that genital warts will not be spread.

If someone is infected with HPV, their skin will also be infected. Any kind of contact, through foreplay or otherwise, can pass on the virus. It's also possible for someone to get HPV on their mouth, hand or any other part of the body during oral sex or other kinds of foreplay. Only about half of those who get HPV exhibit any visible symptoms, but anyone with the virus can pass it one. This means that, even without visible warts, it is possible to get HPV through contact with an infected person. Still, the riskiest sexual behavior for transmitting HPV is through any kind of contact with the genitals.

Often, HPV causes genital warts at the base of a man's penis or his scrotum, rather than on the penile shaft. This is why a condom may not do any good in preventing contact. Even rubbing against each other could transmit the virus, as long as it involves contact with the infected skin. One way to lower the risk of developing the disease is to wash well with soap and water after any kind of sexual activity, including foreplay.

Many people who have HPV have no symptoms. They may never experience an outbreak of warts. It may be undetectable to the layman, but a doctor can tell for sure if someone has HPV. There are tell-tale characteristics that can tell a doctor, and there are also tests that can be carried out to make sure. For women, there is a powerful telescope doctors can use to look at warts called a colposcope. Another sure way to tell if someone has the virus is through PAP smears. This is why those who have HPV or suspect they have it are recommended to have a PAP smear once every 6 months.

In order to protect your partner, you should tell them about your genital warts before you engage in any sexual activity whatsoever. It may be a sensitive subject, but it is very important. If you both know and understand the risk, it is easier for your partner to decide the best course of action.

Your doctor can help you keep your partner safe, if you are sexually active. Be open with your doctor, and they can recommend ways to ensure that your partner will not catch the virus. Your doctor can give you advice and guidelines that will make your foreplay and sexual activity safer for everyone. As HPV becomes increasingly more common, physicians are learning new ways to keep sex safe.

You can also find more information at Dr. Scholls remedy for genital warts and freezing genital warts. TreatGenitalWarts.org is a comprehensive resource to help individuals with genital warts to identify symptoms, prevention and treatment options.

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