Wart Removal

Genital warts are growths that are located on the genital area. They can be small and almost invisible, or grow to a larger size and take on a cauliflower-like appearance. For women, the location of genital warts can include inside or outside of the vagina (vaginal genital warts), inside or outside of the anus (anal genital warts), or on the cervix. For men, they can appear on the penis, scrotum, groin, thighs, or inside or outside of the anus. They can also present in or around the mouth of someone who has had oral sexual contact with someone who has human papillomavirus (HPV). They affect the mucous membranes around these areas. Anal genital warts typically present in those who have been on the receiving end of anal intercourse, although this is not always the case.

Recommendations for optimal sexual health include pursuing treatment for HPV from a health professional, like a doctor, if the lesions are causing discomfort, pain, if a woman is pregnant while having contracted HPV, or if there is a history of cervical cancer in the family, as HPV can progress to cause cancer in some cases. It is best to refrain from unprotected sex during an outbreak of HPV warts, as they are contagious and highly transmissible during sex.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GENITAL WARTS?

Genital warts can cause itching, burning, bleeding, irritation, and vaginal discharge, as well as lowered self-esteem and discomfort for those suffering from external genital warts. For those who have larger genital warts, their sexual health may be affected without treatment, as they can experience difficulty with intercourse (discomfort, pain, or even bleeding) from clinical symptoms. If the lesions are present within the urethra, they can affect urination.

Human papillomaviruses, like those that cause genital warts, may progress to cause certain types of cancer, like cervical, anal, and penile cancers. It is important for those who have had a history of the virus to test for precancerous cells with routine Pap smears, even if the external genital warts themselves have cleared up on the skin long ago. Let Dr. Dima Ali know if you have had an HPV infection or if you have had sexual contact with a person who has HPV.

Genital warts are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or HPV. An HPV infection is one of many different types of sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. There are approximately 100 different types of HPV that can affect both men and women.

Infections that can cause genital warts are incredibly common in people who are sexually active. Between five hundred thousand and a million new cases are diagnosed each year. Those with a compromised immune system are more likely to present with visible warts during an HPV infection. Those whose mother was infected with HPV while she was pregnant are more likely to carry the virus.

The virus can remain dormant for several weeks, months, or even years without appearing on the skin. It is difficult to know who passed on the virus because of how long the infection can remain in the system before showing symptoms. Using a barrier, like a condom or dam, is one of the most effective ways of preventing sexually transmitted infections, as they are contracted through skin-to-skin contact.

People who smoke, drink alcohol, have a weakened immune system, or are under 30 are at a higher risk for developing genital warts.

Diagnosis of genital warts is typically visual or clinical. Medically reviewed materials do not recommend surgical excision for diagnosis unless the patient has been unresponsive to treatments, the warts are atypical for human papillomavirus, the patient is immunocompromised, or the patient is at a higher risk of developing cancer.

Dr. Dima Ali may ask questions related to your sexual activity and use of barriers and protection. A cream may be applied that will make difficult-to-see genital warts appear more clearly. Warts typically appear flesh-colored but, under certain circumstances, can also be brownish or slightly red.

Treatment for genital warts is primarily aimed at removal of the lesions rather than the viral infection itself. If a person comes into our clinic to be treated, Dr. Dima Ali can give medical advice on both the best way to treat genital warts as well as recommend ways to reduce the risk of endangering the sexual health of others through the transmission of HPV.

Treatment options for an infection causing genital warts may include liquid nitrogen to freeze the warts off (called cryotherapy), prescription medicine like Imiquimod cream (an antiviral medicine), surgical excision using a laser, or an antimitotic (medicine that causes tissue to die). A local anesthetic can be applied for treatments that may cause discomfort, pain, or irritation.

The right treatment for your genital warts will depend on the amount of pain you are in, the number of warts present, and the cost of treatment, as well as whether you are pregnant at the time of treatment. The location of the warts may also determine your course of treatment. It is easier for some treatments to be done on the skin versus inside the anus or vagina.

For some treatments for genital warts, you may have to come back for additional applications of medicine, or cryotherapy and laser surgery sessions.

TYPICAL TREATMENT CYCLES FOR PATIENTS WITH GENITAL WARTS

Treatment to remove genital warts may have to be repeated to achieve desired results. Although warts on the skin may go away within a number of weeks, treatments for genital warts are not always effective on the first application. Dr. Dima Ali may even determine that the side effects of treatment are not necessary for your particular case and may recommend that you wait to see if your genital warts subside on their own before receiving treatment. If it is a more symptomatic clinical case, she can help you search for the right treatment with the fewest side effects.

Cryotherapy, or freezing the warts off, can be safely done in our office setting but should never be attempted with over-the-counter treatments intended for other kinds of warts. If you find a wart on your genitals, you may be tempted to try to treat it yourself. However, the warts and skin in the genital area can be much more sensitive than those on your feet or hands, and you can do more harm than good by attempting a cryotherapy type health treatment on your own rather than leaving it to professionals who have expertise in removing these specific types of warts.

There are other home remedies that can be found online, but none of their efficacy and safety are medically proven. Because of this, it is best to search for a wart treatment that can be done by a professional in a safe manner rather than risk an unknown treatment on your own.

WellMedica Treatment Options

There is no treatment for the HPV virus itself; however, genital wart treatment at WellMedica includes medications like Imiquimod, no-downtime lasers, and medical advice from our doctor. Surgery using laser treatment can work to remove large clusters of genital warts, whether vaginal, anal, or on the surrounding genital skin.

When you first come into the clinic, your affected area will be numbed with a local anesthetic cream to reduce discomfort during the procedure. Treatment can give peace of mind and ease discomfort during sex. There is also some evidence that treatment can actually prevent the virus from being as transmissible to others.

It is recommended to get treatment for genital warts if they are causing irritation or interfering with urination or sex. Without treatment, genital warts may go away on their own in a matter of weeks, though they may come back later.

It is important to be aware that an HPV infection may increase the risk of cervical and other cancers, so you should talk to your doctor about sexual health and get regular Pap smears and STI tests to make sure any diagnosis happens early on.

A vaccine is available to prevent HPV. It can be given in two or three doses at any time between ages 9 and 45. It is more effective if it is given at a young age or before the person becomes sexually active. If you know your partner has or has had genital warts or HPV, it is recommended that you get an HPV vaccine, like Gardasil, to prevent you from contracting the virus through close contact or sex with that person.

Genital warts are common and treatable, so be on the lookout for warts and seek treatment to prevent them from recurring or progressing into cancer.