Overview
Condyloma acuminatum is the medical term for genital warts, which are an infection spread through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. The warts are caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 30 strains of HPV that cause warts, and some of the strains are serious and can cause some cancers, including cervical cancer. There is no cure for HPV, but there is a vaccine that is available through a doctor to prevent the strains of HPV that cause cancer. However, a person who has had the vaccine can still get genital warts.
Warts often go away on their own, but if they do not, a doctor can remove the warts one by one. Removing the warts does not cure the affected person of HPV, and the warts can come back at any time. Because the warts are spread through skin-to-skin contact, condoms are not always protective against warts, though condoms are a good idea to use to prevent many other sexually transmitted diseases.
Gardasil® (http://www.gardasil.com/) is a new vaccine that protects against 4 strains of HPV, which cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. In 2006, the FDA licensed this vaccine for use in girls/women, ages 9–26.
