The days in which eyeglasses and contact lenses were the only option to those with impaired vision came to an end in 1991 when Lasik eye surgery was first performed in the United States. Today, with more than a million patients having undergone the procedure, Lasik has become commonplace among eye patients who wish to minimize the long term expense and inconvenience associated with eye care. Lasik is something of a miracle for those who have struggled with compromised vision. And while it may be something that is relatively new to us, it utilizes technology that has actually existed for quite some time.

Lasik eye surgery focuses on the reshaping of the eye’s cornea - the transparent tissue that covers the iris (the colored segment of the eye) and the lens (the part that rests behind the iris). The lens is the part of the eye that bends or refracts light to the retina - cells that exist in the lining of the back of the eye. The retina’s job is to then take that light and convert it to messages that can be received by the optic nerve in the brain.

When the eye experiences refractive difficulties - such as what is experienced in nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and a host of other issues - the light that our eye receives is not refracted properly and the message that our brain receives is that of a blurry image. Traditionally, eyeglasses and contact lenses have been utilized to correct how light is refracted by our eye. But modern times have seen the rise in popularity of Lasik eye surgery - that makes such corrections with the aid of a laser.

Experimentation with surgically correcting the cornea first began in the late 1940s when a Columbian ophthalmologist was able to successfully treat patients by removing over half of their cornea, freezing it, resurfacing it once it was frozen, and then replacing it in the patient’s eye. In the 1960s, an ophthalmologist in Russia was able to elevate the technology by making adjustments to the cornea while it remained in the patient’s eye; such adjustments were made using a scalpel.

In 1990, Lucio Buratto and Ioannis Pallikaris developed Lasik eye surgery; the first of which was performed in the United States in 1991. Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and makes correction to the cornea to improve light refraction. During Lasik eye surgery, the patient is first given numbing drops to anesthetize the eye. The patient lies down and the eye is held open with a speculum and immobilized with a cornea suction ring. The surgeon then cuts a thin flap into the top layer of the cornea. The flap is folded back to reveal the underlayer of the cornea - the stroma. Using low-powered laser technology, the surgeon then resurfaces the stroma to improve light refraction. When the procedure is completed - normally in less than 10 minutes - the flap is replaced over the cornea and allowed to heal naturally.

Most patients report virtually no pain during Lasik eye surgery and only mild and infrequent discomfort. Recovery time is short; patients can generally resume normal activities - with a few safety guidelines - the day following the procedure.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik eye surgery

A systematic and thematic link building for your website gets you high popularity and a high page rank. Every business wants endorsements and prominence in the market place, whether it’s offline or online. In an offline arena, it’s still simpler to get your business visible but in the online world getting the top positions is the most daunting of tasks.

Link building works on a simple formula that is increasing the number of high-quality links to your website in order to improve your search engine rankings. But the main question that pops up in the mind is which website to choose and link with to reap positive results?

This is when a link building company marks its presence. Link building plays a very important role in popularising any website. It has been also said that the more websites linking to yours, the better chance your website has of increasing traffic. And simultaneously the more traffic generates more business and profits. Thus in short you can say that it’s a chain which is interlinked to one another.

But very few know that there is a slight demarcation in natural link building as not all incoming links are created equal. Therefore the relevancy of any incoming link is extremely important. For instance, if your website is for a homebuilder’s association then having a link of a bricklayer website will be more beneficial instead of a baby sitter website. In other words, quantity can be the highest factor but quality is equally essential.

Link building can be done by various means such as reciprocal links, being listed in e-zines, newsletters, directories, search engines and many more. According to the experts, link building is one such search engine optimisation technique where a website owner tries to build pertinent, quality inbound links to their website. The main intention of this act is to increase the website’s importance and also increasing ranking in the Search Engines.

Link building is an indispensable part of any effective search engine optimising strategy and is specially designed to establish and improve your website’s link popularity. Search Logic makes sure that your website is getting varied and quality links. Search Logic’s link building team will handle every aspect of your link building campaign, from start to finish. Thus, if you want to take your business to new heights then hiring Search Logic for natural link building is the best choice. Link building is very critical for web marketing campaign success as:

–Links generally drive qualified traffic to your website
–Incoming links generally perk up your search engine rankings
–Links usually ascertain your market position
–Last but not the least the more quality websites that link to you the more qualified prospects you’ll get.

Katy is a well known author who writes for http://www.searchlogic.com

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor will more than likely try to
lower that reading through non-medicinal methods first. Such methods will include changing
your diet and adding exercise to your daily routine. However, if those methods do not work to
lower your blood pressure, your doctor will probably prescribe a blood pressure medication.

There are many considerations to address when you visit with your doctor to discuss medications.
Of course, cost is always an issue, but so is convenience and tolerance to various medications. It
may take more than one try to find the correct medication that will work for you, so do try to be
patient throughout this process. As well as the medication you may be required to take, your
doctor will also more than likely remind you that you still need to keep an eye on your diet. You
also need to continue any exercise routine that you have started. Also keep in mind there are
many different classes and types of blood pressure medications. Knowing what they are may
help you to understand your condition better.

Commonly Used Drugs

The most commonly used drugs used to treat high blood pressure are thiazide diuretics. These
reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes caused by high blood pressure. But the best thing
about these are that they are relatively inexpensive. They are also convenient, as they are to be
taken once a day. Be aware however, that with all drugs, there is a chance of side effects, and
with thiazide diuretics, users may feel an increase in the need to urinate. In addition, since a
diuretic can increase the loss of potassium in the body, you may be required to take an extra pill
to make up for that. On occasion, diuretics may cause some sexual dysfunction in men, so take
that into consideration when speaking with your doctor.

Medication Side Effects

Another common high blood pressure medication is a beta-blocker. This medication can also
reduce the chance of stroke and heart attacks, while also protecting the heart in those who already suffer from coronary artery disease. As with the thiazide diuretic, a beta-blocker is also
inexpensive and you can also take it just one time a day. Something to be aware of with the
beta-blockers is that they may cause some sleep difficulties in some patients, and perhaps even
depression, so watch for this. As with the diuretic, the beta-blocker may also cause some sexual
dysfunction in men.

The next most common high blood pressure medication is what is called an ACE inhibitor. This
stands for angiotensin-converting enzyme. This medication helps to support and protect the
kidneys as well as the ability to help protect the heart muscle after a heart attack or for those who suffer from congestive heart failure. Your doctor will carefully assess your condition before
prescribing an ACE inhibitor, as they can cause more decline in some kidney functions. Other,
lesser side effects may consist of dizziness or a dry cough.

Get the latest in blood pressure medication know how from the only true source at http://www.bloodpressurefile.com Check out our blood pressure medication pages.

As small business owners, the most daunting obstacles to reaching our Biggest Vision for our business are our unique personal fears. Often, we don’t realize that we’re deciding not to pursue a great opportunity or try something new in our business because of fear. We get locked into an idea of how we should market, sell, manage, or structure our day. We hesitate to change, and when we get mediocre or poor results, we still refuse to abandon our approach.

I was always a very determined person (okay, stubborn!). I’d stick with an idea, strategy or plan, even if it felt like I was batting my head against a brick wall. This way of doing things is like continuing to head the wrong way on a one-way street, despite the signs that are telling you you’re headed in the wrong direction. It was actually deep reflection on, of all things, the Serenity Prayer (see below) that turned me around. Now, whenever I get that “running into a brick wall” feeling, I recognize this as a signal that I need to change direction.

Fear of change is a big vision buster. Recently I’ve run into several small business owners who truly fear technology. Even though adding certain technology solutions to their businesses could increase profit and put some functions on auto pilot, they are afraid that the change might temporarily disrupt business or that the implementation might prove too difficult. They’ve come up with lots of unsubstantiated excuses why they shouldn’t change the way they’re doing things. Yet, they work hard and really would like to grow their businesses and have more free time. They don’t recognize their hesitancy as fear, and try to camouflage it as a legitimate business decision. While clinging to outmoded or inefficient systems simply because you’re afraid of change might maintain the status quo, it will ultimately block you from achieving your biggest goals.

Don’t we all do this sometimes? I love the saying, “if you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got”. Every time I start getting a headache from the brick wall, I repeat it like a mantra.

Getting honest with yourself might hurt a little. After all, you might have to admit you made some decisions that didn’t work out like you’d hoped they would. So what! It’s a right of passage for seasoned entrepreneurs. Cut your losses and make some changes.

How do you know where fear is bogging you down? Sit comfortably in a quiet place for fifteen minutes, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Let the stress and worry of the day leave you. Now ask yourself:

What is not working well in my business?
What could work better that I’m not addressing?
What am I tolerating that needs to change?
What is creating stress or draining my energy?
What needs to get done that I keep putting off?
How would my business look if it were just where I wanted it to be?
Where am I afraid to try something new?
Are all of my strengths being used well?
Where do my weaknesses negatively affect my business?

Answer these questions honestly and you’ll begin to understand where you may be holding yourself back from the most wonderful, fun, profitable business you have the potential to create.

The Serenity Prayer helped me understand that when I pushed to change people or situations over which I had no control, I couldn’t, but sometimes fear was stopping me from changing the things I could. It’s worth contemplating. For example, I never thought I’d include a prayer in a business article, but I’m doing it!

You’ve probably heard this before: the letters in FEAR stand for “false evidence appearing real”.

The Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Take a calculated risk, try a different approach, reach outside your comfort zone; think outside the box. That’s the true test of a successful small business owner or entrepreneur.

Copyright 2006 Janis Pettit

Janis Pettit is a successful entrepreneur and small business growth and marketing expert who
has helped hundreds of small business owners worldwide to reach their profit and personal potential. For a copy of her e-book, How to Build a Profitable Small Business in One Year or Less, and more small business help, go to http://www.smartrack.net

How many of you have gone to desperate measures for a date? C’mon now - fess up. People will go to extremes when they want to shed their lonely single life, but you can gain valuable dating advice from many experts. Much of this advice is either free or very inexpensive as well as easy to obtain. For example, after learning about people like David DeAngelo the dating guru, you may ask yourself is he the real deal?

If you haven’t heard of this man, you should get yourself acquainted with him ASAP. He is the author of the e-book entitled “Double Your Dating - What Every Man Should Know About How To Be Successful With Women”. The guide is written in a fun, informal manner and provides 9 different chapters within 3 parts. Part 1 is entitled “How To Think About Success With Women, Part 2 is entitled “How To Communicate With Women” and Part 3 is entitled “Exactly What, When, And How”.

Well, you should get a copy of this book and learn from David DeAngelo, the dating master. He will answer questions you have probably been dying to ask, but didn’t know who to ask. Topics of every nature are covered from the underlying motives of women and how men usually find women to personality traits that attract women and signs that a woman is interested. If you are currently single, you should check the book out and learn some helpful tips. If you are already in a relationship, why not peruse the book and keep a copy just in case things don’t go so well later on.

Many other books and guides have been written about the subject of dating. However, David DeAngelo, the dating guru, manages to cover a wide range of topics in his 90-page book. If you aren’t happy with what you read, you aren’t taking a very big risk. You can always explore some of the many others so-called dating experts that have become very popular lately. If you are strict with yourself about following some of the advice in the various books, you are sure to see positive results. You just need some patience. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you can’t expect your dating situation to improve instantly and gain instant gratification.

If you are frustrated with your current dating situation, take advantage of the years of experience shared by people like David DeAngelo, the dating guru. Refer to the book as often as you need to and don’t get frustrated. Persistence is the key when learning how to master the mysterious and exciting world of dating and seduction.

Derek Rake is the author of the highly popular The Seducer’s Vault Report, a directory of free ebooks, mp3s and videos on dating and seduction on the Internet. Sign up at http://www.TheSeducersVault.com to receive the report for free.

Ever roll into your local auto parts store to get some car care supplies, for example - dressings for tires, trim or your interior? With the vast array of products available, it is confusing to say the very least!

Considering your choices, combined with all slick packaging, hard to see sizes, and pretty pictures - all these products are competing for your hard earned dollars. The result is confusion of what product to buy for what application. Do you use the same product to dress and protect tires as you do for your leather seats?

Let’s keep it simple, folks! This isn’t rocket science - we’re talking about dressings here. Hopefully this article will give you some insight into the choosing the right product for the right job.

Basically, there are two kinds of dressings - Water Based Dressings and Solvent Based Dressings. So look at what we’ve done here - grouped all of the dressings into two options. I don’t know about you, but I can get my arms around 2 choices pretty easy. We all like keeping things simple.

Both Water Based and Solvent Based dressings have their rightful place and use, and have different properties, pros and cons. In keeping with our “simple” theme and as a general rule of thumb, here’s the skinny: Use Water Based dressings on the inside of your ride and Solvent Based dressings on the outside. Pretty simple, isn’t it?

Why the inside / outside choice, you ask? Simple! When water hits a Water Based Dressing - it tends to fall down, fall apart, poof - gone. Water Based Dressings generally don’t stand up to the elements as well as Solvent Based Dressings do.

Solvent Based Dressings tend to repel water, much like water beading from a waxed finish on your car. In my opinion, Solvent Based Dressings also give a more rich, luster-like finish and do an excellent job of bringing back the fading of vinyl and rubber typically seen on the outside of your vehicle. The bottom line is that Solvent Based Dressings are longer lasting and more durable when constantly exposed to the elements.

- A little more detail about Water Based Dressings

Most of the dressings available at retail stores come in a ready to use formula. The downside of this is, if you don’t like the particular finish of these products, you are stuck with it. For example, you might want a more of a matte finish instead of an out-of-bottle glossy finish a product might provide. You figure, since it’s water based, you should dull it down with water, right? Not so.

Most of these dressings aren’t designed to be mixed with water, and now you have worthless bottle. As well, we have all had the experience when these dressings really never dry to the touch and become a big dust magnet. Well, you figure, so much for dressing and protecting your interior, right? Not so!

Water Based Dressings that the professionals use actually dry to the touch AND are designed to be mixed with water to give you the exact finish you desire. But the best part is they don’t usually cost any more than their retail counterparts!

- A little more about Solvent Based Dressings

Solvent Based Dressings tend to do a better job at restoring faded trim and plastic, offer excellent UV protection and are easy to apply. To get the finish you want, instead of diluting these products like Water Based Dressings, simply wipe the dressing on with an applicator to get your desired finish. More equals a higher gloss, less a lower gloss. For those who want a high-gloss finish on their tires, simply spray the dressing on and let it dry. For those who prefer a lower gloss, wipe the dressing while wet to get their desired finish.

In addition to tires, a good Solvent Based Dressing can also be used to dress and protect all of the rubber, plastic and vinyl trim on the outside of your ride.

- Lastly, one more Specialty Dressing - a cleaner and conditioner in one

There is one more category of dressings that should be mentioned here - a cleaner and conditioner combined. For example, one of the most delicate interior surfaces of your ride is leather. The key to keeping leather nice is delicate cleaning and proper conditioning to keep it supple and protected. Check this out for simple - wipe the product on and then wipe it off. In most cases, these specialty products are also scented like leather.

Summary

Don’t let all the choices and hype about dressings confuse you. Use Solvent Based dressings for the outside, Water Based Dressings for treating and protecting the inside and consider Specialty Dressings for cleaning and conditioning delicate surfaces such as leather.

Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care Products are widely used in commercial businesses such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller quantities for the consumer market. You can get fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail work yourself. For more information, go to http://www.jaxwax.com or call 877-7JAXWAX.

Tennis has long been one of the world’s most popular sports so it should come as no surprise that many people take up the game each year. But taking up tennis is more than borrowing a tennis racket and heading over to a court. Clothing, shoes, rules, and etiquette are just a few of the elements of the game that beginners must learn, but perhaps there is nothing more important to understand than the basics of the tennis racket. Purchasing a racket that best complements your skill and physical abilities is crucial to enjoying early success as a tennis player.

If you are interested in tennis then you have probably strolled though a tennis shop, the tennis section of a sporting goods store, or even browsed the website of an online tennis retailer. And if you have done any of those things then you are probably confused about which tennis racket is best for you. With an understanding of racket basics you can cut through the massive selection and find a racket that suits you, so let’s get started!

The first thing you will want to look at is the size of the head - the frame that holds the strings - of the racket. Between the grip and the neck on most rackets you will find a label that displays the size and square inches of the head. Generally speaking, these measurements will place a particular racket into one of four categories:

* Midsize (85-92 square inches),

* Midplus (93-105 sq .inches),

* Oversize (106-115 sq. inches) and

* Super Oversize (over 116 sq. inches)

The size of the racket head has a direct impact on the power and control offered by the racket. Large heads provide great power, but at the expense of control, while smaller rackets provide less power and more control. Beginning players are usually best served by opting for a larger heads that not only provide power, but offer forgiveness on hits that are not close to the center of the head.

The next aspect of the tennis racket that you need to understand is just as important as the size of the head; the size of the grip. A properly sized grip is not only a key to hitting good shots, it is integral in avoiding injuries such as the dreaded tennis elbow. While having a proper grip size is critical, selecting a proper grip size is quite simple.

Pick up the racket with your hitting hand and make sure you palm is on the same bevel - the ridges on the grip - as the racket face. Take the index finger of your free hand and try to slip it into the gap between your palm and fingertips of the hand that is holding the racket. If your finger just fits then you have a properly sized grip. If the gap is too small for your finger, or so wide that your finger fits easily, then you need to select a different size.

Next you must consider the strings. You will find that some rackets are prestrung, while others require that strings be installed. As a beginner you will probably be well served by a prestrung racket as premium rackets - rackets without strings - are generally expensive and suited to better and more skilled players.

String density is a term that refers to the spaces between the main and cross strings on the racket. The smaller the hole, the denser the racket, and the more power it generates. As a beginner you should focus on dense, powerful rackets that will help you generate power until you develop a more consistent tennis stroke.

Selecting the proper tennis racket will allow you to get the most out of your time on the court. Be sure to keep an eye on the attributes mentioned in this article, and look for a racket that has string tension that is in the middle of the scale. A good grip and medium tension will give you a combination of power and control that will not only help your game, it will help prevent tennis elbow as well.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis racket.

Finances can easily go awry. It could be because you got carried away with your furniture shopping. It could have been a sick family member. It could have been something as innocuous as forgetting your due date. The point is, things can and will happen that could mean financial disaster. Right now, you may be one of the millions of people who have three loans that needed paying yesterday or three credit cards with crippling interest rates. If you find yourself in just such a quandary, what do you about it?

Debt Consolidation

First off, you’d have to find a way to simplify your financial obligations and make payments easier. You should consolidate your debts into a single loan.

To consolidate your debts into one, you will need to borrow money once again so you can pay off all your current debts. Your new lender will make payments to your creditors and you’re going to owe all your debts combined to only one lender. One loan and one lender mean better financial control and management. It’s going to be simpler to write and mail one check rather than several. It’s going to be easier to monitor one account’s rates, due dates and due amounts than to watch several of those every month.

You can do debt consolidation by yourself or you can also obtain the help of a debt consolidation service - it’s your choice. What’s important is to get your debt consolidation right.

You have many options in debt consolidation. You can take out a credit card that has a debt consolidation (balance transfer) offer, transfer your other debts into the credit card account and pay off the credit card according to the terms provided in the card member agreement. You can also take out any of the loans, secured or unsecured, and use the money you get awarded to completely pay off all of your other loans. One of these loans that you can apply towards debt consolidation is the so-called second mortgage loan.

Second Mortgage Loan

Second mortgage loan is a secured loan. It is similar to your first mortgage because you are using the same property to secure a loan. In particular, you’re using your home equity as collateral.

Home equity is the difference between the amount you still owe on your mortgage and the current assessed value of your home. Thus, if you currently owe $150,000 on your mortgage and your home has a current assessed value of $300,000, then your home equity is $150,000. This amount will be used to determine the loan amount you’ll get approved for. Typically, second mortgage loans are granted for around 70-80 percent of the total home equity value, though there are cases (when credit rating is extremely good) that home equity loans for 120% the total home equity value are awarded.

Using Second Mortgage Loan for Debt Consolidation

Second loan mortgages can conceivably give you a larger loan award depending on how much equity you’ve built up in your home. This is quite unlike credit card loans when you are at the mercy of your credit score and payment histories alone. There have been cases when people have applied for balance transfer credit cards and found out, after some debts have already been transferred, that their credit line is not enough to pay off all their debts. In effect, some loans got transferred but real debt consolidation did not take place; the balances just got shifted around but the borrower still has to manage several accounts each month.

Second mortgage loans are good for debt consolidation because they are secured (this loan has collateral). The rates offered are typically lower than your existing unsecured and defaulted loans, though they’re understandably higher than your first mortgage loan’s rates; a second mortgage loan takes second place to a first mortgage loan in cases of default so second mortgage lenders have a greater amount of risk. Nevertheless, since there’s collateral, the rates and terms are better than that of an unsecured debt consolidation loan.

A second mortgage loan, since it is secured by home equity, is a good option for people with bad credit score. If one is conscientious about loan payments, this can be used to rebuild credit standing. Moreover, second loan mortgage interest rate payments are also tax deductible.

Financial Management

Getting approved for a second mortgage loan is just the first step to recovering from indebtedness. After you get awarded your second mortgage loan, do not use the money for any other purpose than what it’s been slated for. Consolidate your existing loans, do not spend your extra money on superfluous things and do not incur any more unnecessary debts. Furthermore, you have to meet your monthly payments without fail. You can only be financially free once more if you practice due diligence and care in managing your finances.

Jinky Bagagñan is a team member of Online Creative Solutions, an online company dedicated to providing article/content/copy writing, rewriting, editing, and proofreading services to webmasters and other publishers. You can visit http://onlinecreativesolutions.110mb.com/ocs.htm for details, more free content and contact information.

Nokia has been marketing the Nokia N93i handset as a digital camcorder. The multimedia prowess and latest imaging capabilities available on the phone, do jusify the manufacturer’s claim. The mobile phones has an impressive and long feature-list comprising a twisting form factor, 3.2 megapixel camera, video recording, music player, FM radio, UpnP, WiFi and much more. With so much to offer, the handset truly is a multimedia computer and will certainly make your mobile communication richer.

The high quality digital camera has a 3x Carl Zeiss optical lens which captures print quality images. Video capabilities that can record upto 30 frames per second is another selling point of this mobile phone. A vivid 2.4 inch QVGA display which gives resolution of 240 x 320 pixels complements the imaging superiority of the device. Other supporting features add up and make this handset competing against many entry-level and mid-range dedicated cameras.

The Nokia N93i mobile phone operates on 3G, WLAN, Wi-Fi and GSM network provides you with unparalleled connectivity. There is also TV-Out,UPnP, Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0 available to connect your handset with other compatible devices. The TV-Out function allows you to hook your handset with a T.V and view images and videos on a bigger screen. A digital music player with FM radio further improves the entertainment quotient of the device.

The Nokia N93i also has other features expected in a latest mobile phone like good call management functions, multiple messaging options, personalization features in addition to quality reception and voice clarity. With dimensions of 118. 2 mm x 55.5 mm, and 28.2 mm in thickness, the handset is a bit bigger but considering the high-end features it ensemble, it certainly is a top-notch mobile phone available in the market.

Nokia N93i

Alice Erin is an Expert Author. He has written good quality articles on Mobile Phones
Take a look at latest Sim Free Phones

Genital warts are contagious and they are spread during sexual activity. The virus that causes genital warts is the human papillomavirus. There are 100 types of HPV and 40 of them are spread through sexual contact.

Genital warts can spread during oral, vaginal or anal sex with an infected partner. About two thirds of people who have sexual contact with a partner who has genital warts will develop warts, usually within three months of contact.

The only way to prevent genital warts from spreading 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 areas, you should avoid any skin to skin contact to avoid spreading genital warts.

Unfortunately, many people who have HPV but who have no symptoms don’t know that they can spread the genital warts virus to an uninfected partner. At any given time only a small percentage of people who have genital warts have warts that are easily seen. A recent study by the National Institute of Health reported that almost half of women who are infected with HPV had no obvious symptoms. Some people have reported reduced incidence of genital warts when a condom is used but there is not formal scientific evidence to support that theory.

Pregnant women who are infected with HPV and suffer from genital warts are likely to be concerned about passing this extremely common sexually transmitted disease on to their child. Although it is not curable, genital warts do not generally spread to the newborn and are not a major threat to your child’s health during pregnancy.

In some cases pregnant women have genital warts so large that they block the birth canal and make a vaginal birth impossible. There is also the risk that the warts may begin to bleed as the baby passes through the birth canal. In some instances, it may be necessary for a woman to have a cesarean section either if the warts completely block the birth canal or if the warts are at risk of bleeding excessively during birth.

A good source of information about how genital warts can spread is the National Institute For Allergies and Infectious Diseases. NIAID supports basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose and treat infections diseases. NIAID is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Although there is no cure for HPV, considerable research has been performed regarding the prevention of the infection. In June of 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved Gardisil, the first vaccine developed to prevent genital warts. Some states are considering making the vaccine mandatory for girls when they turn 13. There has been heated political debate over whether or not the vaccine should be mandatory. In any event, the focus on prevention could play a key role in reducing the spread of genital warts in this country.

Glossary:
Gardisil: A vaccine to prevent genital warts that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Human papillomavirus: The virus that causes genital warts.

Find more information at latest research on genital warts and low risk genital warts. TreatGenitalWarts.org is a comprehensive resource to help individuals with genital warts to identify symptoms, prevention and treatment options.