A. Genital warts are extremely common among younger adults these days. They are caused from a form of the human papilloma virus (HPV).

The virus is transmitted during sexual activity - mostly as a result of intercourse - but it could be spread by 'heavy petting', such as oral love play.

The virus loves to get into moist, warm human tissues, so the genitals provide it with an ideal home! Once it gets in there, it usually causes the little warts which you mention. In guys, these tend to develop around the foreskin area, or on the skin of the shaft of the penis. But sometimes they grow just inside the urinary opening, where they may cause bleeding.

In females, the warts often develop around the labia (vaginal lips), but they may be found deeper inside.

In both sexes, they often grow around the anus. This is liable to happen if the couple have gone in for any kind of 'bottom play', such as touching the partner's anal area during sex.

What do the warts look like?

Generally, they are little fleshy, 'stretchy' things, just a few millimetres long. They can be dark or pinkish, but the ones inside the vagina, or inside the urinary opening, are always pink.

They are usually pretty infectious, which is why anyone who has genital warts should refrain from sex till they have been cured. Treatment usually involves applying a special 'paint' which is obtained from a doctor or clinic.

Now in your case, it is a full three years since you broke up from this girl. Although scientists are not sure what the maximum incubation period of the virus is, it is certainly a lot less than three years. Therefore, if you haven't developed any warts by now, I am sure that you are NOT going to do so.

You may wonder whether you could be tested for the virus, but this is just not possible - or necessary. The only way of diagnosing that a person has had this particular form of HPV is to find that genital warts are present.

I am not sure whether this girl is suggesting that you gave her the warts over three years ago.

That really is most unlikely, especially if she has developed them in the last couple of years. It would be a different matter if they had started growing (say) a few weeks after you broke up. I applaud the fact that you apparently used a condom in your sexual relationships, and I hope you will continue to do so!

A. No, it should make themshorter - which is very good.

A. Sorry to hear about this. You almost certainly have a major hormone problem. Please see a doctor soon for an examination and blood hormone tests.

A. In the whole of the world's medical research literature, there is not a single case of the Pill making anyone's vagina looser. That is just impossible. So there is no reason at all for you to stop taking the Pill.

But why does your boyfriend think that you are 'not as tight'? It may be just that you are more relaxed about sex these days. Or it could be that you are very 'turned on', and therefore are producing more lubricating fluid.

On the other hand, it could simply be that your partner is simply imagining all this! Maybe his organ is not as bulky as he would like, and he is blaming you for the lack of tightness.

After that, I started to wash the area thoroughly each day. The itching has now gone, but the fishy smell is still there. I am just wondering if this is some kind of infection. But I think don't that is likely because I have used a condom every time I had sex.

A. Well, it is important for guys to realise that you can easily get infections which are NOT sexually transmitted ones in the region of the penis. Such infections are particularly likely under the foreskin.

That is because of the fact that the region covered by the foreskin is just the sort of warm, moist 'snug' spot that germs love to breed in!

Therefore, males should make a point of washing this part of the body each day. It is good that you are now doing that.

Now, let us go back to thebeginning of your story. It sounds like something happened a month ago - an incident in which you found it real painful when your young lady rolled back your prepuce (that is, your foreskin).

That strongly suggests that the prepuce is just a little too tight. When that is the case, it can easily jam itself painfully for a while, just below the head of the penis.

Now the second thing that happened was that several weeks later you found 'a brownish substance' which smelt bad. This must have been due to some kind of germs breeding under the foreskin. Since you started washing regularly, matters have improved, but you are clearly not OK yet.

So really, what you must do now is let a doc check out your organ. My guess is that he will probably prescribe a mild antiseptic to clean up the area under the prepuce. He will also advise you about daily hygiene. Please do not resume sex till you have seen the doc. Incidentally, I do not think that you will have to take an operation on the foreskin.

A Yes. If you have cystitis symptoms, take a specimen of urine to the doc for testing.