genital warts and genital herpes.

These warts are usually red or pinkish-brown raised areas of the skin with a tendency to form cauliflower masses. Some of you may have had warts on your hands, or plantar warts on the soles of your feet. These types of warts are not sexually transmitted. Genital warts, transmitted through sexual intercourse, look exactly the same and are highly infectious. They can occur in men and women. In men, they are found on the penis, although in homosexual males they may occur in the anal area. In women, they are usually seen in the vulva and cervix. If untreated, they can become numerous and large with an incubation period averaging four-six months although it may take as long as a year.

There are two methods of treatment commonly used. Initially a plant extract, podophyllin, can be applied on alternate days to the warts, however, this treatment should only be carried out under the direction of a physician or STD clinic. Occasionally, this treatment is unsuccessful and cauterising or burning of the warts is necessary. Again, this should only be undertaken by a physician.

It is important to not that any sexual partners of a person diagnosed as having genital warts should be examined and evaluated, and secondly, anyone treated for these warts should be aware that they may recur at intervals.

The second sexually transmitted disease caused by a virus is genital herpes.

Several years ago one could not open a magazine without seeing health messages about this problem, which led many people to believe that this was a new sexually transmitted disease. Not so. Genital herpes was first described 25 centuries ago by the Greek physician Hippocrates. With changing life-styles and the increase in multiple sexual partners there has been an increase in the disease.

The virus that causes it is called Herpes Simplex Virus Type 11. The incubation period for the primary attack is from four-six days following sexual contract with someone who has the blisters that result from the virus.

Fever, headaches, and tiredness may occur, followed by itching and burning in the genital area and sometimes around the anus. This is follow by blisters which contain the virus and which later burst, spilling their content. At this time the lesions are extremely painful and in women may cause so much discomfort that it may become uncomfortable to pass urine. Some people will also experience small painful swellings in the groin. These are enlarged lymph nodes -- part of the immune system which helps to fight infection, and is a normal reaction when the body is fighting any disease. The primary attack can last from one-three weeks at which time the virus travels back along the nerves and lies dormant within the body.

For some people this may be the only attack they experience, while others may have recurrent attacks months or years later. Certain factors are believed to contribute to these flare-ups -- stress, fever, sexual intercourse, sunlight and injury -- but further research is needed to determine why certain people experience an occurrence and others do not.

It must be noted that the virus can only be passed on when the blisters are present, and that at no other time is the person infectious. It is important to refrain from sexual intercourse: During the period when the blisters are visible, although in women the blisters can be internal so they they are not visible but are capable of shedding the virus.

When the itching or burning is first noticed. Using a condom is not an effective means of preventing the virus from spreading since the virus is so small it can penetrate the structure of the condom.

There is at the present time no cure for herpes, although ointments and tablets are available on prescription which are capable of easing the symptoms.

Any sexual partners of a person diagnosed with herpes should be examined and informed about how and when the virus is spread. Pregnant women with herpes must inform their physician or obstetrician since the virus may be transmitted to the baby during delivery. Although there is no absolute proof, there may be a connection between genital herpes and cancer of the cervix in women, therefore for those women who have herpes a cervical smear is recommended once a year.

Last but not least, is the emotional stress caused when a person is initially diagnosed. Feelings of anxiety and guilt are experienced by many, and depression when the full implications are realised. At this time much support is needed together with access to the correct information.

As with all sexually transmitted diseases, prevention is better than cure and practising safe sex by abstaining from intercourse or using condoms are the only effective ways of preventing their spread.

Jennifer Fox Communicable Disease Control Clinic Department of Health.