What is the difference between genital warts and hpv

When they appear, this is often called an outbreak. The first time a person has an outbreak, they may also have symptoms of the flu. Outbreaks usually become less painful over time.

As a person ages, the outbreaks tend to occur less frequently and last for shorter periods. Some people stop having them altogether. Herpes blisters are usually filled with fluid, and they can be painful. They appear grouped together on the skin, and they may appear around the:. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U. There are many types, or strains, of HPV, and they can cause different symptoms.

Most strains cause no severe health issues, but some can cause cancer. The medical community considers HPV types 6 and 11 to be low-risk strains because they are unlikely to lead to serious medical problems.

They do, however, cause 90 percent of all genital warts. These warts look soft, pale, and fleshy. They do not cause symptoms, and medical professionals can remove them if necessary. High-risk strains of HPV can lead to cancer, and these strains are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.

Some types of HPV and also cause cancer of the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommend that females aged 21—65 years attend screenings for cervical cancer, also known as a Pap smears or Pap tests. This screening can detect any changes HPV has made to the cells. Anyone who is sexually active is at risk of contracting HPV unless they have received a vaccine for the virus.

People are at risk of contracting herpes if they are sexually active or come into contact with the skin or saliva of others with the virus. Individuals with weakened or suppressed immune systems can have an increased risk of contracting herpes and HPV. It is important to remember that herpes and HPV do not always cause symptoms. Only testing can show whether a person has an infection.

Testing for herpes is not usually part of a routine sexual health scan. The vaccine is free for New Zealand residents aged between 9 and 26 and will help protect you from HPV and genital warts. Use condoms each time you have sex, especially if you are having sex with someone new or with different partners. Cervical screening every three years from age 20 to 70 will pick up any changes in the cells in your cervix, so you can get treatment if you need it.

Find a clinic. Are you in an unsafe situation? Know someone who would like to read this? Share it. Facebook Twitter Email. We thought you might find these links useful STI testing and treatment Get tested and treated for sexually transmissible infections at our clinics.

Getting the HPV vaccine is an excellent way to protect yourself against this sexually transmitted infection. There is no vaccine for herpes at this time. An abnormal test shows potentially cancerous cells, which could suggest the presence of HPV. At this point, there is no screening test for males. However, the active virus can be diagnosed in men and women during a physical exam just by examining the lesions.

Most healthcare providers can diagnose herpes simply by looking at the lesions. Care teams can swab lesions and send them away for testing to get a definitive herpes diagnosis. There is no cure for herpes or HPV, although medications and medical procedures can help manage the symptoms.

However, herpes is a bit more stubborn and stays in the body forever. People with genital warts from HPV may be prescribed topical solutions, such as podofilox, sinecatechins, or imiquimod cream. These creams remove visible warts for an improved appearance.

Warts may also be removed using cryotherapy or laser treatments. Antiviral medications can reduce the risk of herpes outbreaks and the severity of symptoms. Topics: Adolescents , Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Genital warts are fleshy growths or lumps found around the genitals and anus.

They are caused by the human papillomavirus HPV. HPV infection is very common. Sometimes HPV infection causes visible warts. However, many people who have been exposed to the virus do not develop visible warts because their immune system keeps the virus under control.

Warts are harder to treat in a person with an impaired immune system, such as someone living with HIV. Some warts may be difficult to see as they occur inside the vagina, cervix, or anus.