Although genital warts may go away on their own, many people choose to treat them for cosmetic or comfort reasons. There are many good treatments for genital warts, but there is no guarantee that they will work. If you have genital warts, talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
The main objectives of treatment are to get rid of genital warts that are visible and to ease any irritating symptoms.
There are a few different treatments to pick from, and no single treatment is perfect for everyone or for all warts.
Some things that might affect the treatment you choose include the size, location and number of warts, changes in the warts, patient preference, the cost of treatment, convenience, possible side effects and the health care provider’s expertise.
All treatment options have some drawbacks, such as pain, possible scarring and expense. Also,
If the HPV treatment does not result in a significant response after 4 to 6 weeks, another diagnosis should be considered, the treatment plan should be changed, or a referral should be made.
Whatever the treatment option is, here are some important points to remember:
Before starting any treatment for genital warts, it is always best to seek medical advice first. This way, you can ask your doctor for a full explanation of the treatment, including the costs, benefits, and side effects. Make sure you understand the follow-up instructions, such as what to do for discomfort and when to seek help. And finally, be patient – treatment often takes several visits and a variety of approaches.
Before passing urine or having a bowel movement, it is useful to apply Xylocaine (2% lignocaine gel) to raw areas. Thrush (yeast) infection is common, especially when the genital area is raw. Therefore, it is often helpful to treat thrush at the same time as warts.
Options for removing genital warts
Remember that not all of Best Genital warts treatment options may be available, and a treatment plan needs to be discussed with the doctor or health care specialist.
Whatever the choice, remember that weekly treatments are usually needed, and it may be some time before the warts clear. No treatment at present can guarantee that warts are gone forever. Also keep in mind that warts would usually go away over time without treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns about your wart treatment plan, make sure to talk to your doctor so that you can get the answers and peace of mind that you need.
Podophyllotoxin (Condyline™) solution is a patient-applied treatment for external genital warts. It is recommended for external penile skin only, as it can irritate if applied to skin folds such as under the ******** on the or vulval skin (the area around the vaginal opening). It is contraindicated in pregnancy.
Imiquimod (Aldara™) cream is a patient-applied treatment for external genital and perianal warts. It is easy to use and safe if instructions are followed.
Cryotherapy, which involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen, can be done by a trained health practitioner. TCA (trichloroacetic acid), a chemical applied to the surface of the wart, is another option, although it’s not available in some DHBs (district health boards). Laser therapy and surgery are two other possible treatments, but they come with certain advantages and disadvantages. Laser therapy is more expensive and only available in a few centres, but it has the advantage of getting rid of the warts in a single visit. Surgery also gets rid of the warts in one go, but it may result in scarring. Recurrences (the warts coming back) may also occur with any of these treatments.
Follow-up after treatment
After your initial outbreak of genital warts has cleared up, you won’t need to see a doctor for a follow-up evaluation. However, recurrences (a return of the warts) are most common during the first three months after the initial outbreak. So, if it would make you feel more comfortable, you could schedule a follow-up evaluation with your doctor three months after treatment. Additionally, all individuals with a cervix should get regular cervical cancer screenings, whether or not they have had genital warts in the past.
If you have genital warts, tell your doctor so they can check for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that you might have. This is also a good time to get a full sexual health check.
