Condyloma
Definition
Condylomas are skin growths located on the genital organs (in women, in the vagina, vulva; in men, in the urinary meatus of the glans, the penis sheath), in the anal region, in the mouth or throat. They are one of the manifestations of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.
Epidemiological data
It is a very common condition: more than 70% of adults have had condylomas once and, every year, 1% of young women aged 15 to 25 have them.
Symptoms of the disease
Be careful, it is a "devious" disease: you can be contaminated, be a carrier of it, without having any symptoms. These can appear several years after contamination, without causing pain. The only manifestation of the disease is the appearance of condylomas. There are two types of them :
• “acuminate” condylomata, also called “cockscombs”, which vary in size from a few millimeters to a centimeter;
• “flat” condylomas, pink in color and sometimes invisible to the naked eye.
Treatments
In 50% of people who have contracted this condition, condylomas disappear within a few months, without any treatment. For others, a drug treatment, in the form of an ointment, may be prescribed. It is also possible to remove these growths by electrocoagulation, laser or liquid nitrogen application.