Dear xohurleygirl,

All types of genital HPV — human papilloma virus — can go away on their own. Sometimes genital warts go away on their own in a few months - but remember, just because you don't have any visible warts, you may still have the virus that causes them, so you still have to be careful about protecting yourself and your partner. So always use a condom or female condom to reduce the risk of infection.

Genital warts may be uncomfortable and unattractive, but they are not usually dangerous. Treatment for genital warts focuses on removing existing warts. This could be through prescription creams that you apply to the warts or by removing the warts with special medications applied by clinicians or with electrocautery or lasers.

The drug company Merck has developed an HPV vaccine that is effective against two types of HPV that cause 90 percent of the cases of genital warts, as well as the two types of HPV that can lead to cancer. Vaccinating young people is the surest way to protect against genital warts and cancers of the genitals, anus, and cervix. People who are sexually active can reduce their risk of getting HPV by using condoms every time they have sex. In addition, women who are sexually active, whether vaccinated or not, can protect themselves against developing cervical cancer by getting regular Pap tests.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.