1 Dear readers,

2 Are you ready to brush up your dermatological English? It is our very great pleasure to present the twenty-fourth English corner based on Genital warts. Don’t forget you can use a dictionary to help you with the text, and of course, you should visit our website at http://anglaismedical.u-bourgogne.fr/ to work on your pronunciation or build your medical vocabulary. The site also includes a talking dictionary, medical videos, exercises, clinical cases, words and expressions for specialists…

Genital warts

3 Condylomata acuminata (or genital warts¹) is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STI). It is caused by human papillomavirus, mostly HPV 6 and 11, with HPV 6 being the most frequent. The warts are generally found in the anogenital area². In women, lesions are found around the vagina, but may even affect the cervix³, while in men they are found on the glans penis. In both sexes, warts can be found around the anus.

4 The infection is passed on⁴ via⁵ skin-to-skin contact, especially during vaginal and anal sexual intercourse⁶. People can also contract the disease by sharing⁷ sex toys. Oral sex rarely leads to⁸ infection by this virus, but the virus can be passed on from mother to infant⁹ during childbirth¹⁰. It's important to know that you can’t get genital warts from kissing, sharing towels¹¹ or from toilet seats.

5 Symptoms of genital warts include painless¹² growths¹³ around the vagina, penis or anus, which may itch¹⁴ or bleed¹⁵, and you may notice that the urine jet is deviated from its usual trajectory (sideways¹⁶, for instance). Nonetheless¹⁷, there may be no symptoms whatsoever¹⁸.

6 A visual examination of the lesions is usually sufficient to diagnose the disease.

7 There are a number of treatments available and these include surgery; the warts can be excised or burnt off with a laser, which may cause scarring¹⁹. Alternatively, they can be frozen²⁰, though this treatment has to be repeated every week for about 4 weeks. There are also ointments²¹ or liquids that need to be applied to the warts several times a week until they shrivel up²² and disappear.

8 Despite these treatments, the virus may not be eradicated and may be passed on even if there are no apparent warts, and the warts may reappear. In some cases, the body may clear²³ the virus over time.

9 The common wart treatments from a pharmacy are not suitable²⁴ for genital warts.

10 Unfortunately, it may not be possible to know who contaminated you with the virus or how long you’ve been infected with the virus.

11 Prevention is essential, and the sexual partners of people with genital warts should be screened for²⁵ the condition. Sexual intercourse should be avoided²⁶ until the warts have totally disappeared, but if this is not possible, a condom²⁷ should be worn. In fact, it is advisable²⁸ to use a condom every time you engage in vaginal, anal or oral sex.

12 The HPV vaccine, which is now generally available to protect women against cervical cancer, also provides protection against genital warts.

Exercise: Match the following pictures with the following words, then insert them in the sentences below

13 1. An _________ is a portable device often used to treat asthma. As it delivers the drug into the lungs, patients have to breathe in deeply when they use one.

14 2. A method of infusion that involves putting a drug into a vessel or a muscle via a needle and a syringe is called an _________.

15 3. In a _________, the active ingredient is contained in a soluble gelatinous case. It has to be swallowed without chewing.

16 4. By using _________ _________ it is possible to deliver drugs via the eye.

17 5. Because _________ are greasier than creams and have a thicker texture, they are able to adhere to the affected area longer.

18 6. _________ are liquids that have to be swallowed. They are generally sweet or flavoured and are used to treat coughs, for example.

19 7. _________ contain a precisely measured dose of a drug and are taken orally. They are usually sold in ________-_________ and are thus easy to carry around and use.

20 8. A _________ _________ is inserted into the nose to deliver drugs to relieve the symptoms of colds and allergies.

21 9. A _________ is a drug-delivery system administered through the rectum.