Genital warts during pregnancy
What are the symptoms
of genital warts during pregnancy? Is my baby safe if I got genital warts
during pregnancy? How to treat genital warts during pregnancy? These are
questions no mom-to-be wants to ask. Pregnancy can be a wonderful and exciting
time for expectant mothers and their families. For those who see a doctor
regularly, practice proper nutrition, and prioritize health, the stress and
anxiety that sometimes occurs during pregnancy can be greatly reduced.
These health measures
are especially needed for people with more serious health problems, either
before pregnancy or during pregnancy. Genital warts are one of those infections
that, once diagnosed, make sure you and your doctor take the appropriate steps
to improve your health throughout your pregnancy.
What are genital warts?
External genital
warts are usually caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects up to 75% of
sexually active men and women. Often those who get HPV don't know it because it
doesn't show symptoms and doesn't go away on its own.
There are many
strains of HPV, and some of them lead to the development of genital warts.
These warts are highly contagious and are easily transmitted from person to
person through sexual contact. These warts appear externally around the vagina,
anus, in the rectum, or on the cervix. The warts are usually soft,
flesh-colored, and vary in size. Other than occasional itching, burning, or
bleeding, warts are usually painless.
For many women, warts
go away on their own and disappear within a few months. If this does not
happen, the treatment is effective in removing the warts. Some strains of HPV
are known to damage cells so badly that it can lead to cancer; however, this is
not commonly seen in the HPV strain associated with genital warts. However, if
you are sexually active, regular Pap smears are recommended to check your
overall health.
If you have the
strain of HPV that causes genital warts during pregnancy, it is unlikely to
affect your baby's health. Genital warts have been shown to grow faster during
pregnancy due to discharge as well as changes in hormones and the immune
system. But genital warts during pregnancy usually don't pose a serious risk to
you or your baby.
There are rare cases
of mothers passing the wart-causing HPV to their unborn child, but the child
can usually overcome the symptoms on its own or with early medical intervention
from a doctor.
Treatment of genital warts during pregnancy
Treatment for genital
warts during pregnancy can vary from case to case. However, since warts
themselves do not usually cause complications during pregnancy, your doctor may
not treat warts during pregnancy at all.
This may lead to
increased growth, but does not pose a threat to your health during pregnancy.
However, if your doctor chooses to remove it, there are many safe methods for
removing genital warts during pregnancy, including freezing, surgery, or laser
removal.
If you usually take a prescription for genital warts, let your doctor know so they can educate you about the health risks. In many cases, if you are taking prescription medications for genital warts, your doctor may tell you to stop taking them during your pregnancy.