1 lump or 2?

After a recent trip to pattaya, I was concerned to see the amount of lads which had genital warts, (whether it be at the front or at the back end of themselves)

Maybe I was just unlucky this trip with my choice of guys, but I certainly
saw more on this trip than any other.

Some stayed the night, & by sharing the same bed, would this increase my
chances of catching anything?

If you touch the concerned area with your hand & then touch yourself, can
you catch them this way? Basically how are they caught?

In some bars you can have a quick inspection/feel in certain areas,
otherwise its an obvious gamble

[jinks]

Penile warts can be frozen off.
Anal treated with a creme.

I am not sure if simple contact will contract them.

[bucknaway]

What are genital warts?
Genital warts are skin growths in the groin, genital, or anal areas. They are considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD) because they are caused by a virus that can be spread by sexual contact.

Genital warts occur in women, men, and children.

In women, the virus that causes genital warts (human papillomavirus, or HPV) can infect the cervix, vagina, vulva, urethra, and the groin or anal areas. HPV can cause abnormal changes in cells of the cervix. Women who are infected with certain types of HPV are more likely than other women to have an abnormal Pap test. The types of HPV that cause visible warts usually are not the same types that cause abnormal cervical cell changes.
In men, HPV can infect the penis, scrotum, urethra, groin, or anal area.
In children, HPV can infect the genital area. A child can get genital warts in several ways. Any child with genital warts needs to be evaluated by a health professional to determine the cause and to assess for possible sexual abuse.


Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)

Topic Overview


HPV infection can cause cell changes that increase the risk of anal or rectal cancer.

What causes genital warts?
Genital warts are caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Of the many types of HPV, types 6 and 11 produce visible genital warts. Usually, they eventually disappear without treatment. Other HPV types, such as 16 and 18, usually do not produce visible genital warts. However, they are associated with precancerous and cancerous changes to the cervix.

Risk factors for genital warts include:

Having unprotected sexual or genital contact (not using condoms).
Having multiple sex partners or a high-risk partner(s) who has had multiple sex partners or HPV-infected sex partners.
Starting sexual activity before age 18.
Having an impaired immune system.
What are the symptoms?
Infection with HPV usually does not cause symptoms. Most HPV infections are latent, meaning the virus is present but is not multiplying or producing any signs of infection. Visible genital warts appear only during active infection. (However, you may spread the virus even if you do not have warts.) Warts may look like tiny bunches of cauliflower or like flat, white areas that may be difficult to see.

When symptoms do develop, they usually occur 2 to 3 months after infection. However, they may develop from 3 weeks to many years after infection. Possible symptoms include irritation, itching, and bleeding.
How are genital warts diagnosed?
A health professional usually diagnoses genital warts using a medical history and a physical examination. During the medical history, your health professional will ask about possible risk factors for warts, such as whether you have recently had unprotected sex.

He or she will do a physical examination to look for signs of genital warts or other sexually transmitted diseases. Women will have a gynecological exam, including a Pap test. If the exam reveals abnormal tissue but a definite diagnosis cannot be made, your health professional may take a sample of tissue (known as a biopsy) for laboratory tests to identify the tissue.

How are they treated?
Genital warts caused by the most common types of HPV often go away on their own without treatment. After you are diagnosed, if you do not have symptoms or cosmetic concerns, you may observe your condition without using treatment. This is called watchful waiting.

Experts sometimes differ on how to treat the condition because genital warts often go away without treatment and because treatment does not eliminate the HPV infection.

Treatment will depend on:

The number of warts and their size and location.
Any problems the warts are causing.
The side effects and costs of treatment.
Your health professional's skill in treating warts.
Your preferences.
Topic Overview


Even if you are treated to remove visible warts or your warts go away without treatment, the HPV infection is not cured; it remains in your body's cells.

Even with treatment for genital warts, you still may be able to spread the infection. Condoms may help reduce the risk of spreading the infection, but they do not fully protect against genital contact.

[bigben]

As to your question on how contagious they are.....see the first sentence under "Transmission"

This is copied (in part) from a U.S. government health site


http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/

August 2006

Human Papillomavirus and Genital Warts


TRANSMISSION

Genital warts are very contagious. You can get them during oral, vaginal, or anal sex with an infected partner. You can also get them by skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or (rarely) oral sex with someone who is infected. About two-thirds of people who have sexual contact with a partner with genital warts will develop warts, usually within 3 months of contact.
In women, the warts occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the opening to the uterus (cervix), or around the anus.
In men, genital warts are less common. If present, they usually are seen on the tip of the penis. They also may be found on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, or around the anus.
Rarely, genital warts also can develop in your mouth or throat if you have oral sex with an infected person.
Like many STIs, genital HPV infections often do not have signs and symptoms that can be seen or felt. One study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) reported that almost half of women infected with HPV had no obvious symptoms. If you are infected but have no symptoms, you can still spread HPV to your sexual partner and/or develop complications from the virus.

TREATMENT

There are treatments for genital warts, though they often disappear even without treatment. There is no way to predict whether the warts will grow or disappear. Therefore, if you suspect you have genital warts, you should be examined and treated, if necessary.
Depending on factors such as the size and location of your genital warts, your health care provider will offer you one of several ways to treat them.
тАв Imiquimod cream
тАв 20 percent podophyllin antimitotic solution
тАв 0.5 percent podofilox solution
тАв 5 percent 5-fluorouracil cream
тАв Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
If you are pregnant, you should not use podophyllin or podofilox because they are absorbed by your skin and may cause birth defects in your baby. In addition, you should not use 5-fluorouracil cream if you are pregnant.
If you have small warts, your health care provider can remove them by one of three methods.
тАв Freezing (cryosurgery)
тАв Burning (electrocautery)
тАв Laser treatment

If you have large warts that have not responded to other treatment, you may have to have surgery to remove them.
Some health care providers inject the antiviral drug alpha interferon directly into warts that have returned after removal by traditional means. The drug is expensive, however, and does not reduce the rate that the genital warts return.
Although treatments can get rid of the warts, none get rid of the virus. Because the virus is still present in your body, warts often come back after treatment.

PREVENTION

The only way you can prevent getting an HPV infection is to avoid direct contact with the virus, which is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. If you or your sexual partner has warts that are visible in the genital area, you should avoid any skin-to skin and sexual contact until the warts are treated.
Historically, research studies have not confirmed that male latex condoms prevent transmission of HPV. Recent studies, however, demonstrate that consistent condom use by male partners suggests strong protection against low and high risk types of HPV infection in women. Unfortunately, many people who don't have symptoms don't know that they can spread the virus to an uninfected partner