Genital warts have no cure.

• Position: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

More than 24,000,000 Americans are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause one of the most common, yet least recognized, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)--external genital warts (EGWs). In fact, nearly three out of four Americans will be infected with HPV in their lifetime. According to a nationwide survey of adults ages 18-40, external genital warts remain unrecognized by 97% of respondents as one of the most common STDs.

"These results are a wake-up call for sexually active adults of any age. HPV and external genital warts are a significant public health problem ... because many are unaware of what genital warts are, how to prevent them, or even what treatments are available," reports professor Anita L. Nelson, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. "Sadly, there is no cure for HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, so prevention and prompt treatment ... are essential."

They can appear as small growths or bumps that may be raised or flat or manifest in a cluster with a cauliflower-like appearance. Genital warts, medically referred to as condyloma, are spread by direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected partner, usually during sexual activity. Research also has indicated that HPV may be transmitted by hand-to-genital touching. Warts may appear within several weeks after sex with an infected person or they may take several months to present, or never appear at all. HPV can remain dormant for months or years.

In women, genital warts can occur on the vulva, perianal area, vagina, and cervix. In men, genital warts can appear on the tip or shaft of the penis, urethra, scrotum, and perianal area. Left untreated, they may become quite large, cause discomfort and pain, and interfere with sexual...