The goal of genital wart treatment is to eliminate or prevent the lesions themselves. By eliminating the genital warts, the chance of passing the sexually transmitted disease to others is reduced. Most of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is contained within the genital warts themselves, so by eradicating them the amount of virus is reduced.
Key points for people with Genital Warts:
- Genital warts are bumpy lumps that grow near your genitals
- Almost all genital warts are benign (non-cancerous).
- Genital warts are caused by a virus called the human papilloma virus (HPV).
- Increased risks for infection with HPV include multiple sexual partners, another sexually transmitted disease, or a condition that affects your immune system.
- Genital warts aren’t usually serious, and treatments work well.
- After your genital warts are removed, the HPV virus that causes the warts remains in your body.
Treatments for genital warts have traditionally been intended to destroy the lesion by some means. Recently though, medications have been developed that affect the immune system rather than attacking the lesion directly.
Genital warts treatment options can be divided into medical and surgical treatments. Since most of the lesions are on the outside of the body, there is considerable overlap between the two treatment types. In other words, dermatologists (a medical specialty) may use techniques to excise or cut out the genital warts and plastic surgeons may administer medications as part of their treatment plan.
It is often more useful to separate genital warts treatments into self applied treatments, physician applied treatments, and surgical treatments. Self applied treatments include over-the-counter treatments and prescription medications that can be applied at home. Physician applied treatments are applied by the doctor and are not available in a pharmacy. Surgical treatments are performed by a physician using one of a number of surgical approaches.
The decision between these three genital warts treatment options is based on the size and extent of the lesions and their location. In general, genital warts located inside the body usually require treatment by a physician. In every case, it is important to meet with a physician to diagnose genital warts and to direct care. While over-the-counter medications may be available, they should only be used in addition to some other, more definitive treatment. Currently all definitive treatments are only available through a physician and by prescription.
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February 5th, 2010 |
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By: Susan Miller MS BSN RN
Genital warts is a health subject that those who are (or who are about to become) sexually active should be familiar with. Genital warts are caused by certain types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a virus that can be contracted by direct genital contact such as vaginal and/or anal sex. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least 50% of sexually active people will get genital HPV
The types of HPV that are associated with the visible skin changes known as genital warts fall into the low risk category. This means that genital warts do not put a person at increased risk for cancer. Genital warts are visible growths or bumps that can be raised or flat, small or large, and singular or multiple in number. External warts can be found on the penis, vulva, scrotum, and surrounding skin tissues. Internal warts can be found on the cervix, vagina, urethra, and anus. Often genital warts go unnoticed, but they can be painful, itchy, and bleed easily.
Genital warts can be prevented by abstinence (not having sex). A vaccine is available for women aged 9-26 that prevents certain types of HPV thus reducing the risk of having genital warts. The risk of contracting genital warts can further be reduced by using condoms, and keeping the number of sexual partners you have in your lifetime to a minimum (the partner you select should also have had minimal partners).
While Genital warts may go away on their own, a number of treatment options are available to remove them. When considering the option of having genital warts removed it is important to remember that removal of the wart or warts does not eliminate the HPV infection. Removal also does not prevent the transmission of HPV.
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January 2nd, 2010 |
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The difficult thing about lesions of the skin is that they can be difficult to identify. The entire field of dermatology is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the skin. Therefore if you have a skin abnormality in the genital region—or anywhere on the body—that you cannot identify with certainty, you should seek medical advice. For genital warts, it is also best to seek the help and guidance of a professional.
With that is mind, there are a number of natural treatment options for warts and genital warts that you may want to explore. They encompass nutritional supplementation, herbal remedies, homeopathy, and other alternative medical interventions.
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February 15th, 2010 |
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Like many viral infections, human papillomavirus (HPV) is a permanent infection. A person with human papillomavirus (HPV) may be highly infectious at times, especially when genital warts are oozing, broken or bleeding. At other times, the human papillomavirus (HPV) may enter a dormant or latent phase in which the risk of transmission to other people is nearly zero. Despite this ebb and flow of the disease, genital warts are considered a lifelong, chronic infection, once they occur.
The main reason that human papillomavirus (HPV) is so difficult to rid from the body, is that it collects in various “reservoirs” within the body. Traces of human papillomavirus DNA has been found in the prostate,1 vas deferens (the tubes through which semen moves away from the testicles),2 nearly invisible lesions on the penis,3 vulva,4 and even pubic hair follicles and follicles of hair around the anus.5 Therefore it is essentially impossible to eradicate the virus once it takes hold.
February 13th, 2010 |
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Unfortunately many men do not appreciate the risks associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). This is mostly due to the fact that the appearance of visible genital warts is less common among men than it is in women. Also, the vaccine that has recently become available to immunize against various types of HPV is only approved for women. This also seems to suggest to men that HPV is a “woman problem.”
Finally, since the primary concern with human papillomavirus is cervical cancer and men are born without that anatomical structure, they feel an unwarranted sense of protection.
In truth, there are many reasons why men should be concerned with human papillomavirus (HPV). If for no other reason, human papillomavirus causes genital warts in women and men. While the rates of infection may be higher in women, HPV infection and genital warts are still the most common sexually transmitted disease.
Another reason for concern is that men may be infecting their sexual partners even though they have no apparent symptoms.
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February 10th, 2010 |
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Sadly, women get the worst of what human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has to offer. The rate of HPV infection among American women is staggering: As many as 75% of women in the United States have been infected or will be infected with HPV (aside from those receiving the HPV vaccine—more on that later).
What is worse is that several of the over 80 identified types of human papillomavirus can cause serious diseases in women including genital warts, cervical cancers, and cancers of vulva, vagina, urethra, and anus. Because sexually active, heterosexual women primarily engage in receptive intercourse (oral, anal, and vaginal) their risk for contracting these diseases is higher than it is in men.
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February 9th, 2010 |
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and genital warts pose a special problem in pregnant women. There is risk of transmission to the fetus and during birth. Also, the changes that the body endures during pregnancy can stoke up a dormant HPV infection. Women with genital warts who are considering pregnancy or who are pregnant should be aware of several important facts about HPV. It is important to take steps to protect yourself and your baby.
Avoiding HPV infection
Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease. In fact, HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Fighting the disease begins with prevention. Heterosexual women are at increased risk for contracting genital warts over heterosexual men because of the mechanics of heterosexual intercourse. Participants that receive bodily fluids during intercourse are more likely to become infected with human papillomavirus and, as a result, develop genital warts and other diseases. Therefore the first step of protecting yourself and your unborn fetus is through prevention.
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February 8th, 2010 |
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Genital Warts are raised bumps or patches that are usually the same color as the underlying skin. In some cases they are so slightly raised that it may be difficult to notice them, especially since they are skin-colored. They can range in size from an eighth of an inch to inches across. In larger genital warts, the lesion can be lumped up and resemble a cauliflower head.
Genital warts may also appear pink, brown, or red when they become irritated or inflamed. Sometimes they appear white or gray. When genital warts have broken, they may release a fluid discharge or blood.
Genital warts can look very much like most common warts. One difference between genital warts and their common wart cousins is their typical location. Genital warts, as their name implies, generally appear on the genitals.
In men, genital warts may occur:
- On the head or shaft of the penis
- Inside the urethra (the tube within the penis that passes urine)
- Within the foreskin of uncircumcised men
- On the scrotum
- Between the scrotum and the anus
- In the folds between the legs and the genitals
- On and around the anal sphincter
- Within the anus itself
In women, genital warts can occur:
- Around the vagina
- On the vulva
- Inside the vagina
- On or around the cervix
- Between the vagina and the anus
- In the folds between the legs and the genitals
- On and around the anal sphincter
- Within the anus itself
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February 5th, 2010 |
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Imiquimod is a cream that you put on your genital warts. Its brand name is Aldara.
Results have shown that ifmiquimod helps to get rid of warts in about half the people who use it for four months. But one study found it didn’t help people who had HIV.
Imiquimod can also help to reduce the chance of the warts coming back two to four months after you stop using it. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you use imiquimod once, twice or three times a day. It’s just as likely to work however often you use it.
Imiquimod cream can make your skin red, swollen and itchy. Using it twice a day causes more side effects than using it less often.
You shouldn’t use imiquimod if you’re pregnant.
February 1st, 2010 |
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Your doctor can freeze off your warts using liquid nitrogen in a treatment called cryotherapy. You can have this treatment every one to three weeks depending on how quickly the area heals after each treatment and what happens to your warts.
Two RCTs found that cryotherapy worked about as well as treatment with acid. After six weeks of either treatment, about two-thirds of people had gotten rid of their warts.22 Warts came back in about one-third of people two months later, whichever treatment they had.
It isn’t clear whether cryosurgery works better than using an electrical current (electrosurgery) to get rid of the warts.
Cryotherapy can sometimes cause an infection, but this is rare.
It is safe to have cryotherapy if you’re pregnant.
February 1st, 2010 |
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During electrosurgery, doctors use an electrical current to heat up your genital warts to get rid of them. It is also called diathermy or a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).
One study found that, after six months, warts had cleared up in 8 in 10 people who had electrosurgery.
It isn’t clear whether electrosurgery works better than freezing the warts off (cryotherapy).
Electrosurgery can cause scarring, swelling, pain generally and pain during sex.
It’s safe to have electrosurgery if you’re pregnant.
February 1st, 2010 |
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Genital Warts Treatment
