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.
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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Genital Warts
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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Genital Warts
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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Genital Warts
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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Genital Warts
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.
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Treatment Options
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.
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Treatment Options
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.
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Treatment Options
Podofilox comes as a gel or solution that you put on your genital warts. It is sometimes called podophyllotoxin and its brand name is Condylox. It is also the most active of the ingredients found in another treatment called podophyllin.
Eight RCTs found that using podofilox for four months helped to get rid of genital warts. But up to a third of people got their warts back.
Continuing to use podofilox after it has gotten rid of your genital warts probably won’t stop them from coming back.
Six studies have also compared podofilox with podophyllin. Most of these studies found that the two treatments worked equally as well for clearing up warts and keeping them from coming back.
Podofilox can irritate and burn your skin, causing pain and itching.6 It can occasionally make the foreskin and head of the penis inflamed in men who aren’t circumcised.
You should not use podofilox if you’re pregnant.
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Treatment Options
If you suspect or have been diagnosed with genital warts, you may wonder what type of genital warts treatment options are available to aid your recovery time, or at least remove the warts from being physically present. There are three excellent surgical genital warts treatment options that are proved to remove genital warts, and there are also tips for home care and medications that can help you control future breakouts. However, one thing you should know upfront however is that there is no definite cure for genital warts, simple genital warts treatment plans that will help keep outbreaks under control.
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Genital Warts
If you have heard about the sexually transmitted diseases, than you have most likely heard the term genital warts tossed around as one you do not want. There have been many TV commercials that offer medication for those who are forced to live with genital warts because genital warts are something you cannot cure.
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Genital Warts
If you have just been diagnosed with genital warts, or have discovered a rash cauliflower area around your genitals, most likely you are concerned with learning about genital warts treatment. For those who do not have genital warts, reading about genital warts treatment may just be the inspiration you need to practice safe sex. Unfortunately, once you contract genital warts there is no permanent cure for them, but rather just genital warts treatment to make breakouts less frequent and to help ease the burning and rashes that occur during a breakout.
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Genital Warts
