Genital Warts Treatment

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)