STI Incubation Periods: How Long Until Symptoms Appear?
What Causes Burning In The Vagina?
1. Irritation
Certain things can irritate the skin of the vagina when they come into direct contact with it. This is known as contact dermatitis.
Irritants that can cause contact dermatitis include soaps, fabrics, and perfumes. As well as burning, other signs and symptoms include:
The main treatment for irritation is to avoid whatever is causing it. Avoiding the irritant and not itching the area allow the skin to heal. Sometimes, a person may require medication.
2. Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition that occurs when there is too much of a certain type of bacteria in the vagina, affecting the normal balance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BV is the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15–44.
One symptom of BV is a burning sensation in the vagina, which can also occur when urinating.
BV does not always cause symptoms. When it does, symptoms can include:
Having BV can increase a person's risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). If someone develops symptoms of BV, they should be checked and treated by a doctor. Treatment for this condition will often involve a course of antibiotics.
3. Yeast infection
An infection in the vagina caused by yeast can lead to a burning sensation. The medical term for this is candidiasis, and it is also known as thrush.
Associated symptoms include:
Many women get yeast infections, but some women are more likely to develop an infection if they:
Treatment is usually an antifungal medicine, which a woman can either apply directly in the form of a cream or take orally as a capsule.
4. Urinary tract infection
Different parts of the urinary tract can become infected, including the bladder, urethra, and kidneys.
A woman with a urinary tract infection (UTI) will likely feel burning in the vagina when urinating. Other symptoms of a UTI include:
Doctors will usually prescribe antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections. In general, an infection will clear up in around 5 days after starting a course of antibiotics.
Repeat prescriptions may be required if an infection returns.
5. Trichomoniasis
Also known as trich, this is a very common STD in the United States. Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite that is passed from one person to another during sexual intercourse.
Only around 30 percent of people with trich show any symptoms. As well as a burning sensation in the vagina, these symptoms may include:
Trichomoniasis is treated using metronidazole or tinidazole, which are pills taken by mouth.
6. Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is an infection where bacteria called Neisseria gonorrheae infect mucous membranes, such as the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. It is typically transmitted through sexual contact with someone who has the infection.
This STD is particularly common in people aged 15 to 24. Women can experience vaginal burning when urinating, as well as these symptoms:
Gonorrhea can be cured with the right medical treatment.
7. Chlamydia
Chlamydia is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and is typically transmitted through sexual contact with someone who has the infection.
Research suggests that at least 70 percent of people with chlamydia experience no symptoms, which is why the condition is sometimes known as a "silent" infection.
When symptoms do occur, they can include a burning sensation in the vagina, as well as:
Chlamydia is treated using antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed is doxycycline.
8. Genital herpes
Genital herpes is caused by skin-to-skin contact with a person with the herpes virus. It is estimated that around 1 in 6 people in the U.S. Aged 14 to 49 have genital herpes, and women are more prone to infection than men.
Once a person has the virus, it stays with them for life. However, they may not develop any signs or symptoms until the virus becomes active.
If the virus becomes active, they might experience a burning sensation in the vagina. Other symptoms include:
Painful sores, blisters, or ulcers may also develop after a few days.
The symptoms of genital herpes can be treated with antiviral medication but never cured.
9. Menopause
The shifting levels of hormones in a woman's body before she enters menopause can affect the vagina. Vaginal burning is one possible result of these changes, especially during sex.
Other common symptoms of menopause transition include:
Not all women entering menopause have treatment to relieve symptoms, but there are often options available that a doctor can outline, including hormone therapy.
10. Genital contact allergies
The immune systems in some women can become hypersensitive to certain substances.
These substances can cause allergic irritation when they come into contact with the vagina, including:
Treatment mainly involves avoiding the substance that is causing the irritation. Patch testing using the suspected allergen to stimulate a controlled reaction in a clinical setting can help to identify which substance is creating the burning sensation.
Below are some commonly asked questions on vaginal burning:
Why does down there feel like it's burning?Infections and STDs, such as bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, can cause a burning sensation in the vagina. Irritants and the menopause may also cause this.
How can I stop the burning down there?Applying an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area can help reduce the burning sensation. Applying petroleum jelly to the skin can also help protect it. However, depending on the cause, a person may also require medical treatments.
What does BV burning feel like?Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include pain, itching, or burning in the vagina. This burning may also occur when peeing.
Which infection causes a burning sensation?A burning sensation in the vagina can be symptomatic of bacterial vaginosis, a yeast infection, a urinary tract infection, or an STI.
What is vulvar burning?Vulvar burning refers to a burning sensation in the vulvar. This can happen due to conditions such as:
A doctor can help a person determine the cause of vulvar burning and advise on suitable treatments.
The Best At-home STD Tests Of 2023
Quick Overview
At-home tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or sexually transmitted infections (STI) let you know the status of your sexual health without stepping foot in your doctor's office or local clinic. An at-home STD test can also help you minimize the angst of prolonged concerns about your status due to possibly waiting days or weeks for an appointment with a healthcare provider. If you're concerned about exposure to an STD or STI, you're not alone: The US is currently facing record-high numbers of STDs and STIs, with gonorrhea and syphilis especially on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What's even more alarming is the recent study showing there were more than 3,700 babies born with syphilis in 2022, which was over 10 times the number reported in 2012. Furthermore, in 2022, there were 231 stillbirths and 51 infant deaths due to syphilis infection during pregnancy.
Dr Alyssa Dweck, Chief Medical Officer at Bonafide Health, tells us that while the younger generation is disproportionately affected by STD and STI infections, she's noted a rise in sexually transmitted infections in perimenopausal adults and seniors engaging with new partners due to divorce or being widowed. "Many in this demographic don't necessarily think to use condoms, since contraception may no longer be needed, thus the STI rate increases," she explains. Regardless of age, If you're sexually active it's important to proactively test for common STDs and STIs at least once a year, especially if you have multiple partners.
If you're uncomfortable discussing your sexual health with your doctor or a stranger at a health clinic, fully at-home or hybrid at-home tests that screen for various STDs and STIs are a reliable and fast alternative, "access and affordability are benefits of at-home testing," says Dweck.
What's the difference between an at-home test and a hybrid at-home test?At-home tests are conducted in the privacy of your home, with all specimens for the test collected by you, and then mailed to an affiliated lab in a prepaid envelope or box included with the test. "I'm an advocate of home tests, and I'm a big advocate of home collection," adds John A. Nelson, director of the AIDS Education & Training Center National Coordinating Resource Center at the Rutgers School of Nursing. Home collection test kits are easy to use, allow for a level of discretion and privacy you can't get in a medical setting, offer the ability to avoid awkward conversations with your doctor or a stranger at a clinic and provide results relatively quickly, he explains.
Conversely, if you need an STD or STI panel and prefer to skip a trip to your doctor or health clinic but are uncomfortable drawing your blood or taking the samples needed for the test on your own, you may prefer the hybrid at-home test approach which, just like an at-home test, allows you to purchase the test online and get your results electronically, but when it comes to collecting the specimens, you'll go directly to the lab to have your samples taken — usually about a 5-10 minute process. Dr Kevin Huffman, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, tells us a benefit to taking the hybrid at-home test approach is that "proficient experts conduct in-lab testing, which provides a more extensive and precise evaluation."
If you're unsure which route you want to take (at-home or hybrid), below we outline the best at-home STD tests for various needs and conditions that offer the option to either test yourself or go to the lab to have the samples drawn for you. Above all, the following STD tests do not require a visit to your doctor, insurance or a long waiting period.
What's the difference between an STI and an STD?It's important to point out that even though the terms STI and STD are often used interchangeably, there is a difference: STIs are infections that have not yet developed into diseases, such as bacterial infections, viruses and parasites. Fun fact (or not): There are more than 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites that can be transmitted sexually, yet no single test screens for all of them.
Also, different STIs are detected in different ways, regardless of the test you choose: Some diseases or infections are detected through urine, while others are best detected via blood or cavity swabs. Whichever test you choose will guide you on the best collection method — and state upfront what you can expect.
What are the best at-home tests for STDs and STIs in 2023?There's a surprisingly large range of in-lab and at-home tests available that can be purchased both in-store and online. To find the best STD tests and STI tests available for over-the-counter purchase, our team consulted with multiple doctors and testing experts about what to look for in a good test and rated each based on elements such as if the lab used to process the test is ISO/IEC/CLIA-accredited, test accuracy, ease of use, if medical providers were available for consultation, user experience and cost. Every person has different needs, so we made sure to include a range of tests to cover various diseases, infections, needs and budgets.
Everlywell
Test collection method: Blood, swab (women-only), urine (men-only)Time until results: 2-5 daysFree shipping: Yes
Everlywell, a trusted name in home testing offering a multitude of tests and prescription services, tops our list of at-home STD tests due to offering male- and female-specific tests that you conduct entirely from the privacy of your home, no trip to the doctor or lab needed. This STD test kit checks for the six top sexually transmitted diseases and infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and trichomoniasis. The testing process is simple: Take a finger prick and vaginal swab (for women) or finger prick and urine sample (for men). Once the samples are ready, drop your specimens in the mail using the included prepaid shipping box. Within a few days, you'll get results via an app or the website. What especially stands out is that if you test positive for an STD or STI, an Everlywell healthcare provider will reach out to go over what everything means, as well as treatment options and prescribe medication if necessary. If you need your test results ASAP, you can opt for express shipping for an extra charge ($30).
While this test is pricy (which is standard for a test that offers a complete STD and STI panel), you can save 15% by signing up for a semi-annual subscription. All packaging involved is plain and discreet, so you don't have to stress about nosy neighbors or roommates. Insurance coverage depends on your plan, but the tests are FSA- and HSA-approved.
ProsSTDCheck.Com
Test collection method: Blood, urineTime until results: 1-2 daysFree shipping: N/A
STDCheck's test detects a whopping 10 STDs and STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, early HIV, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and herpes I and II. The only caveat to this test (but also why it screens for so many STDs and STIs and the results are returned so quickly) is that a trip to an affiliated local lab is necessary to provide your test samples.
When you purchase the test online, you'll immediately get an access code to schedule an appointment at one of its 4,800 affiliated nationwide labs of your choosing - you may even find you can schedule your appointment with the lab the same day and have your results back within 12 to 48 hours.
Another major stand-out feature of STDCheck is that you can add the HIV RNA Early Detection test to your order, which is an FDA-approved test that detects early HIV infection within 9 to 11 days after potential HIV exposure. STDCheck.Com also offers a range of tests for individual STIs, should you prefer to test for only one or two conditions.
ProsCVS
Test collection method: UrineTime until results: 1-3 days from the date the lab receives the sampleFree shipping: Yes
CVS brand STI test kit tops our list for best budget-friendly at-home test because it covers the top three common STIs for under $100: chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis. The test is conducted fully at home and requires a simple urine sample you drop in the mail and ship to the lab (prepaid postage included). A high-complexity CLIA-certified laboratory will process the specimen and then send the report to an independent physician licensed to practice in your state who will review and approve the findings. The final report will be sent to you via a secure online portal in about 1-3 days after lab receipt of your test. Unlike the aforementioned test kits that have a provider available for consultation, you will need to visit your medical provider should you test positive to discuss the best treatment plan.
One reviewer said, "I found this test kit to be extremely user-friendly. The step-by-step instructions were easy to follow, and the entire testing process was efficient."
ProsQuest
Test collection method: Blood, urineTime until results: 3-5 business daysFree shipping: Yes
If the name or logo for Quest is familiar, then it's likely because you have a Quest lab close to you, after all, there are thousands of Quest labs located throughout the US due to many major hospitals and physician offices that use its services. While the major STD and STI panels offered through the Quest website are hybrid tests that require you to buy online and then visit a lab in-person to provide a specimen, there are plenty of at-home tests available that are conducted fully in the privacy of your home.
Quest offers two in-lab STD panel options: A basic STD screening panel ($139) that covers four conditions: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV 1 and 2. There's also the Expanded Screening Panel test ($269) that covers 7 of the most common STDs and STIs: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, trichomoniasis, syphilis, HIV-1 and HIV-2. Once you choose a test, you'll make the purchase online, schedule with the lab and then head over to provide your blood and urine samples. The test kit's purchase also includes the option to consult a physician if you happen to test positive, although it will cost you an additional $6.
In addition to the STD panel tests mentioned above, there are a total of nine STD and STI testing kit options available through the Quest Laboratories website, should you want to zero in on a specific disease or infection or a combination of conditions. At-home and in-lab tests offered by Quest range in condition and price from $45 for the fully at-home HIV 1 and 2 test kit to 19 tests for women's health including a urinary tract infection test (UTI) ($39) and 15 men's health tests, including a test to show health risks based on your genetics.
ProsMyLab Box
Test collection method: Blood, urineTime until results: 2-5 daysFree shipping: Yes
The MyLab Box Love Box is a fully at-home STD test kit specially designed to be inclusive for all couple combinations: male and female, male and male or female and female. In addition to being for couples, the kit costs $378 (with 15% off your first purchase if you join the mailing list ), making it about two-thirds the cost of purchasing two separate complete panel tests at a competitor. Each test screens for the top eight sexually transmitted diseases and infections: chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV (I and II), herpes simplex 2, syphilis and trichomoniasis.
To take the test, you and your partner will first do a finger-prick blood test, then a cavity swab (female) and/or urine sample (male), then drop the samples in the pre-paid box and ship to the lab. A certified CAP and CLIA high-complexity testing lab will then process the specimens. Within 3-5 days after lab receipt, you'll receive your results electronically, and you can rest assured HIPAA web security protocols are enacted to protect your data. If one or both of you test positive, you can consult with a doctor in your state via phone consultation about the next steps and be prescribed treatments if needed. If the tests are negative, you still have the option to consult with a certified STI counselor. The tests are FSA and HSA eligible.
ProsNurx
Test collection method: Blood, swab, urineTime until results: Within daysFree shipping: Yes
Nurx has a range of STI kits that are covered by most insurance carriers, including the Full Control Kit which checks for five STIs: HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C. There's also a Basics Covered at-home STI Home Test Kit that screens for the four top STIs: HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis. The Healthy V STI Home Test Kit screens for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. While there is an easy-to-use app, you can still order via the Nurx website, regardless of method, you'll start by answering a few questions about your personal and sexual health to find the best test for your needs; All at-home tests are conducted fully at home then shipped to Nurx affiliated lab.
Nurx is also a great option for those wanting to move to telehealth for sexual and overall wellness needs, including having the option to get prescriptions for birth control, acne control, emergency contraception and even hair loss products, with all medications delivered straight to your home. There's a $15 sign-up fee, but the fee includes access to a year of unlimited messaging with a provider.
One reviewer raved that the process was "EASY AND CONFIDENTIAL," adding that they "Loved this experience. I hate going to doctors, especially around sexual health. The fact that everything can be done without having an in person or video/phone call is AWESOME!"
ProsLetsGetChecked
Test collection method: Blood, urineTime until results: 2-5 daysFree shipping: Yes
LetsGetChecked is all about making you feel informed from beginning to end. There's a detailed video walk-through on what's in your test kit, how to collect your samples, mistakes to avoid during sample collection, how to ship your samples, and what to expect after the lab receives your samples; there's even a walk-through on how to use the company's super easy-to-use app.
The test screens for five major STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis and trichomoniasis. If you test positive, a nurse will reach out with information on what to do next, including helping you set up a virtual consultation (for an additional $39) that will include a consultation with a doctor and a prescription for medication if needed.
"If you have anxiety about going to the doctor and requesting an STD screening, this is a really good alternative," said a user. "Also, I was able to use my HSA to pay."
ProsIf you are being proactive about testing after being with a new partner, it may be best to choose a test kit that screens for a wide range of conditions. If you've had a known exposure to a particular STD or STI, you could choose a test that screens for that particular condition or a combination of conditions.
Testing methods
Methods for at-home testing generally include instructions for self-collection at home via a blood sample, urine or internal swab, which is then shipped to a lab to be tested. If home collection is not something you're comfortable with, then choosing a hybrid test that allows you to visit a lab to have your specimen collected may be the better option.
BudgetAs you can see from our list, there is a wide range of pricing options for test kits ranging from $45 for screens for one or two conditions to upwards of $300 for panels for 10+ conditions. In some cases, your insurance may cover the test, if not, HSA and FSA are generally accepted with most all at-home and in-lab tests. Figuring out in advance how much you want to spend can help you choose the right test, whether that be a full panel or a screen for the condition you suspect you may have.
Follow-up careSome tests include counseling from a healthcare provider, while others do not — and Leslie says that's definitely worth considering. "There are issues of follow-up and high anxiety when a test is positive and no healthcare professional is available," he says. You know yourself better than anyone: If you feel like you would be OK waiting to connect with your doctor or someone at your local health care department if you test positive, there's no need to look for a test with a provider connection. But if you know you'd want to talk to a professional immediately about a positive result, a test kit that includes a health care provider consultation may be the best option.
How we chose the best at-home STI/STD testsTo find the best at-home tests, we spoke to multiple doctors for their input on what to look for in an at-home or in-lab STD and STI kits, as well as different types to consider. From there, we researched more than 25 at-home test kits and rated each on elements including sensitivity, ease of use, whether follow-up care is included and good and bad user reviews.
FAQs How do at-home STI tests work?There's variety with these tests and the way they work ultimately depends on the individual test. "Some require an oral or genital swab; others require urine or blood samples, which will then go to a lab," women's health expert Jennifer Wider, MD, co-host of the Open Wider podcast, tells Yahoo Life. It's important to read the manufacturer's information carefully in advance to make sure you're comfortable with the testing procedure.
How do I know whether I have an STI?The only way to know for sure if you have an STI is to get tested. Some sexually transmitted infections don't have symptoms, so you can be positive without knowing, Wider points out. That puts you at risk for health complications such as fertility issues and also increases the likelihood you'll spread the infection.
Are at-home STI and STD tests reliable?Every test kit has its own sensitivity — meaning, how likely it is to detect an infection. "Many are quite reliable, especially if collected properly and then brought to a lab as quickly as possible," Wider says. Dr Leslie agrees, adding, "The test kits work when done correctly and reach populations that are at risk and might not seek traditional medical help for suspected STDs."
Where can I get a free STI and STD test?Local health departments and sexual health clinics such as Planned Parenthood usually offer free or very low-cost sexual health tests. If you prefer to try a local clinic, visit your local health department's website to see what's offered; you may even be able to schedule an appointment for testing on the site.
Our expertsDr Alyssa Dweck, Chief Medical Officer at Bonafide Health
Dr Kevin Huffman, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr Stephen W. Leslie, associate professor, Creighton University School of Medicine
Dr Jennifer Wider, women's health expert and co-host of the Open Wider podcast
John A. Nelson, STI screening researcher and director of the AIDS Education and Training Center at the Rutgers School of Nursing
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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HPV Warts: The Misunderstood STD
Fast Facts About the Human PapillomavirusMore than 42 million Americans are thought to have an active HPV infection at any given time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An additional 13 million people become newly infected with HPV each year.
But not all strains of HPV cause genital warts. Some cause common skin warts, and some can cause cellular changes that can lead to cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, penis, and oropharynx — the area at the back of the throat that includes the base of the tongue and tonsils.
For many people, an HPV infection never causes any symptoms or harm because the body is able to clear the virus naturally.
But in some cases, according to one study, the virus may still be present in the body and may become active if a person's immune system is weakened because of illness or age.
"I've had older women show up with the warts for the first time in their lives, and they're widows who haven't had sex for 20 years," says Anita L. Nelson, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and a staff physician at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California.
"Suddenly, their bodies can't cope with a virus that they've been walking around with for decades, and it shows itself," Dr. Nelson says.
Your Common HPV Questions AnsweredDiscovering you have a sexually transmitted infection is never a pleasant surprise, but knowing more about it and the treatments available can help to set your mind at ease.
Here, Nelson answers some common questions about HPV.
Q. What causes genital warts?
A. Genital warts are caused by certain types of sexually transmitted HPV. There are more than 40 HPV types that can affect the genital area of women and men. But more than 90 percent of genital warts are caused by just two types: HPV 6 and 11.
Q. How common are HPV 6 and 11?
A. One percent of all sexually active women and men get genital warts every year. We see them in everyone — women who are pregnant, young adults exploring their sexuality, older women and men.
Q. How soon after contact do the warts typically occur?
A. That's one of the most frequently asked questions because a person's really asking, "Who gave it to me?"
Typically, you get warts within one to four months of being infected with HPV. But the virus can be kept in check by the immune system for longer than that.
Q. Does everyone exposed to HPV 6 and 11 get warts?
No. Warts can appear after a person is infected, or you can have none at all, as the body's immune system fights the virus.
Q. Can HPV warts surface at any time in your life — even years after exposure?
A. Yes. Sometimes, we'll see them later in life, when people get sick or their immune system gets compromised by chemotherapy or other drugs.
So they don't just occur when you have a new sex partner.
Q. How can sexually active individuals avoid getting HPV warts?
A. Using condoms — or "finger condoms" for manual stimulation — consistently reduces the risk of acquiring or transmitting the virus that causes the warts.
Also, interestingly, HPV infects rapidly dividing cells. So anywhere there's a little trauma, tear, or abrasion, the body can pick up the virus and bring it inside the cells.
Sometimes, we'll see the warts in younger women because it's the first time they've had sex and the vaginal tissue isn't quite elastic. It's the same with some older women who have vaginal dryness.
Q. Does the number of sex partners a person has over a lifetime increase the risk of HPV warts?
A. Yes, people who have had more than 10 sexual partners over their lifetime are more likely to report a diagnosis of genital warts than those who've had one or two.
The more sex partners you have, the more likely you are to have different types of HPV infection as well.
And there's no limit to how many different HPV types you can have. Limiting the number of partners and using condoms are very important to reducing your risk.
Q. Are HPV warts spread only through genital contact?
A. No, you can spread the virus from any moist source to another. The same type of warts that develop on the genitals can also grow in the mouth and throat and even in the insides of the eyelids.
But there has to be a source, and generally, you're going to be carrying the virus in the genitals.
We have to be quite frank about sexual practices today. There's a lot of oral-genital contact. If one partner has a wart in their mouth, the other partner can wind up with warts on the genitalia if there's oral-genital contact.
Q. Can HPV warts lead to cervical cancer?
A. The two types of HPV that cause most genital warts — types 6 and 11 — do not cause cancer.
However, some types of HPV that are associated with cancer have been found in genital warts.
It's also possible to have or get more than one type of HPV at once, including those that can cause cancers in the genital area, such as cervical, vulvar, or anal cancer, or cancers of the mouth and throat.
Having genital warts caused by noncancer-causing HPV strains doesn't mean you don't also have potentially cancer-causing HPV.
Q. Are genital warts more a psychological issue than a health danger?
A. Genital warts may cause some physical discomfort, such as burning and itching, or even bleeding in an intimate situation.
The various treatments to remove genital warts can also cause pain and irritation and can be expensive, depending on what type of treatment you use and what kind of health insurance coverage you have.
For many people, though, there is significant psychological discomfort in realizing they've been exposed to a virus they're going to live with for the rest of their lives and could transmit to others.
Q. Are women more likely than men to get the warts?
A. No, but we have more statistics on women because doctors tend to see women much more routinely. Gynecologists, for example, do Pap smears and visually inspect a woman's genitals.
Q. Can Pap tests detect HPV warts?
A. No. Pap tests detect abnormalities in cervical cells that may be cancerous or precancerous. A newer HPV test detects the presence of the virus in cervical cells.
RELATED: New Analysis Suggests Cervical Cancer Screenings Should Continue After Age 65
Q. How are genital warts diagnosed?
A. You want to have them professionally diagnosed. Usually, physicians just eyeball them and don't have to do a biopsy. A doctor can often tell it's a wart because warts have a little attachment to the skin and multiple protuberances from the single stalk.
Q. What do the warts look like?
A. They can look soft and fleshy, almost like a skin tag, or they can be rock-hard and large with branches like a cauliflower.
They can be a small little dot or bigger than your fist.
Q. Are they easier to treat if discovered early?
A. Yes. Don't wait if you think you might have genital warts. When you feel a bump, especially around the opening of the vagina, or behind the vagina, see your doctor.
Also, it's important to know that once you get infected, it's a regional infection. For example, you can get a wart inside your anus even if you haven't had anal sex.
Q. How soon should a wart be treated?
A. It's not a medical emergency. But the HPV warts that are really hard to treat have been there for months and have hardened.
If you can't get an appointment for two to three weeks after feeling the bump, don't freak out. But don't wait months.
Most women will get the HPV virus, and their body can handle it. But women with persistent HPV infections are the ones we want to identify.
I want to see a young woman three or four years after her first sexual encounter to see if her body can handle the virus.
Is she having persistent infections, which could be a predictor of cervical cancer? Those are the women we want to find, so we can treat any precancers.
For women over age 30 who got the virus earlier in life, we're testing to see if they show cells that go awry and also to determine if they're still shedding the virus.
Q. When a woman has visible HPV warts, should she stop having sex?
A. When we're treating women for warts, we ask them to be particularly careful and maybe even abstain from sex.
That's because as we're treating it, there are inflammatory changes and maybe even a little ulcer, and those tissues are more vulnerable to acquiring another infection.
So take it easy for a while, or use condoms. Abstain from oral sex, too.
Q. Once you have HPV warts, are you always contagious?
A. You spread more viral particles when you have a concentration of warts. But with treatment, you rev up the body's immune system, and it will help reduce the amount of viruses you have and spread.
You also can avoid spreading it through practicing safer sex.
Q. What's the recommended treatment for HPV warts?
A. Get rid of the warts. We can treat fresh warts with easy topical therapies. There are three creams your doctor can prescribe for external genital warts that can be applied at home.
Q. How do these work?
A. Podofilox works by destroying the skin of the wart. The two imiquimods are really groundbreaking because they don't play with the wart at all but instead turn on the body's immune system, which attacks the virus in the wart so it melts away.
These therapies have really simplified things. When a new wart comes, just put cream on it.
Q. Are there natural remedies?
A. Sinecatechins (Veregen) is a green tea extract, which is applied three times a day for up to 16 weeks. We're not quite sure how it works, but some people really like the idea because it's natural. Green tea is an antioxidant. You use it in ointment form.
Q. How are hardened warts treated?
A. If you've had them for a while and they've hardened, then you're talking doctor-administered destructive therapies.
We can snip them off if they have a tiny base. Or we can freeze them with acids to dehydrate them and kill the cells.
For the ones that are really hard to deal with, we'll surgically excise them or do laser treatments.
Q. Are women more likely to get HPV warts if they're on oral contraceptives?
A. It isn't that the pill causes more problems but that condoms protect against HPV infection, and a woman who's on the pill may be less likely to use condoms.
That said, if someone's warts don't disappear after treatment, it may be that her immune system is teetering on the edge, and the pill pushed it over.
But I would never stop prescribing a woman's birth control pill just because she had a wart.
Q. Are HPV warts a danger during pregnancy?
A. The virus can be passed on before or during birth, but the warts don't pose a major risk to the baby's health.
Symptoms of genital warts can get worse during pregnancy, however, because a woman's immune system gets suppressed.
Warts can grow so large they'll obstruct delivery of the baby. And you have to treat the warts in a way that's not harmful to the baby.
Q. Does the HPV vaccine protect against genital warts?
A. Yes, Gardasil 9, which is the HPV vaccine used in the United States today, as well as the original Gardasil vaccine, protect against the HPV 6 and 11, which cause 90 percent of genital warts.
Cervarix, a vaccine that is no longer available in the United States but is available elsewhere in the world, protects only against HPV type 16 and 18, which significantly raise the risk of cervical, genital, and oropharyngeal cancers. Cervarix does not protect against the strains of HPV that cause warts.
RELATED: What Are HPV 16 and 18?
Q. What are the top things a woman should keep in mind about HPV warts?
A. Use condoms, and be choosy in your partners. People ought to take a good look at what they're being exposed to when they're getting into a relationship where there's going to be sex. But keep in mind that a person can have the virus that causes genital warts without having visible warts.
Also, make sure you're paying as much attention to health in your genital area as you are to other parts of your body. Some women are more in tune with the bottoms of their feet than they are with their genitalia.
Examine your genitalia, and feel if there are any bumps or areas of soreness where there shouldn't be.
And don't hesitate to see your doctor if you do find anything.
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