How to Get Rid of Genital Warts?

Genital warts are a contagious sexually transmitted disease. It is spread through direct skin to skin contact during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. Sexually active people who have unprotected sex are at risk of getting the virus that causes genital warts. As of yet, there is no cure for genital warts, although genital warts often clear up on their own.

Method 1 of 2: Diagnosing Genital Warts and Other Information

1. Know that 90% of genital warts are caused by two strains of the HPV virus.[1] When a person gets genital warts, it's usually because they have contracted a form of HPV, or the human papilloma virus. Unfortunately, while there is no cure yet for HPV, the body often clears itself of HPV over time.[2]

• Not all kinds of HPV will lead to genital warts. Genital warts may appear anytime from 6 weeks to 6 months after sexual contact, although they may not be noticed for years.
• Know that certain types of high-risk HPV strains can lead to cervical or anal cancer, although these strains are rarer.

2. Know what genital warts look like. Genital warts are soft growths on and around the genital and anal area. Generally, the genital warts are flesh-colored and can be either raised or flat, larger or smaller, and look like the tops of cauliflower.[3] Genital warts can look show up in different places depending on the gender of the patient:


Genital warts in females can be found:

•     Inside the vagina or anus
•     Outside the vagina or anus
•     On the cervix, inside the body

Genital warts in males can be found on the:

•     Penis
•     Anus
•     Scrotum
•     Groin area, including the thighs

3. Know the rarer symptoms of genital warts. Rarely, genital warts can cause symptoms not commonly associated with genital warts. These symptoms include:

• Increased moisture in and around the genital area
• Bleeding after sex
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Itching in the genital area

4. Let a doctor examine your case if you think you have genital warts. A doctor will need to diagnose genital warts before allowing you to continue treatment. A doctor will diagnose through a visual exam and a pelvic examination in women. Several pap smear tests might need to be taken if an abnormal test appears, which is often the case with genital warts.


Method 2 of 2: Treating Genital Warts

1. Know that many cases of HPV and genital warts will clear up on their own, although this is not always the case. Women, especially, may be vulnerable to contracting HPV.[3] Many men who are exposed to HPV never show any symptoms or problems associated with genital warts. Men (and women) who are exposed to HPV and do not show signs can still pass on the infection through unprotected sexual contact.

2. Treat the genital warts with several types of prescription and non-prescription creams. Do not treat genital warts the way you would a wart on your finger or foot. After obtaining a diagnosis from your doctor, you may receive one of several common topical creams used to treat genital warts:

• Podofilox. Podofilox, or Condylox, is a solution or a gel that is applied to the affected area. It is used in cycles for several weeks until the wart falls off. It clears about 45% to 90% of warts, although research shows that warts may reemerge in 30% to 60% of cases.[2]
• Skinhale. Skinhale, is a non-prescription cream that contains cedar oil and thuja occidentalis which has been proven to treat genital warts. [4]
• Imiquimod. Imiquimod, or Aldara, is a topical immune response cream. It is applied to the wart and it causes less irritation compared to podofilox. In 70% to 85% of cases the initial warts are removed, but in 5% to 20% of cases the warts come back.[2]
• Veregen and Polyphenon E. These are ointments extracted from green tea and other components. They are approved by the FDA to fight against genital warts.[5]

3. Discuss other options with your doctor. If your genital warts don't respond to topical creams, your doctor might want to opt for several different strategies. Creams seem to respond better to warts that are on moist surfaces, while the following generally work better for warts on dry surfaces:

• Cryotherapy. Using liquid nitrogen, cryotherapy freezes the wart so that it eventually falls off. It helps remove warts, but there is no guarantee they will not come back anymore.
• Surgical removal. Minor surgery is conducted by an expert physician and administered with use of local or general anesthesia. The surgeon cuts off the cells of the wart with a scalpel.
• Trichloracetic acid. Common in uses for chemical peels and tattoo removal, trichloracetic acid is a chemical applied to the wart, effectively burning it off.
• Electrocautery. This procedure, less common than the other procedures, involves using an electric current to burn off warts.
• Laser surgery. Not advisable for use in all areas, laser surgery is often the last resort of none of the methods work.

4. Your doctor might give you two or more options to remove genital warts. You’ll have to consider the discomfort that comes along with the procedure. Some people even turn to homeopathic treatment to save money and visit to the doctor. Whatever treatment it may be, it is still best than not having any treatment at all. Have it done before it gets worse.

5. Give your treatment time to work. As stated previously, many of the above treatments, along with a little bit of patience, will see the genital warts removed. If, however, three separate courses of treatment by your doctor, or six doctor-approved home treatments fail to remove your genital warts, your doctor will want to re-evaluate your course of treatment.

Tips

• A diagnosis of HPV or genital warts in one person does not necessarily mean that person was sexually unfaithful to a partner.
• Genital warts are very common. Most people, over their lifetimes, will end up with genital warts without even knowing it.
• Podofilox can be administered to the infected person
• Liquid nitrogen is used in cryotherapy
• HPV does not affect the general health of a pregnant woman or her ability to bring her baby to term.

Sources and Citations

1. http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/genital-warts.htm
2. http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/hpv-treatment-is-there-hpv-cure
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001889/
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3764712/
5. http://www.drugs.com/history/veregen.html

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