Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted disease. Half a million people get it every year. It is highly contagious because it can be spread through sex or even through skin to skin contact with an infected partner. Genital warts treatment is a simple procedure available at every health center.
Genital warts are growths on the skin that can appear around the anus, in the mouth or on the genitals, and they usually develop in a period ranging from 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on the person’s immune system.
Often, people prefer to just wait for the body to fight off the virus instead of getting proper treatment. Two types of genital warts treatment are available: topical treatments and physical ablation.
Topical treatment means applying a cream or lotion to the warts’ area. Podophyllotoxin is a lotion that treats small warts by having a poisonous effect on the cells. It can cause mild irritation and it is not recommended during pregnancy. Imiquimod is a cream that treats large warts by stimulating the immune system to fight the disease. It will also cause skin irritation and should not be used during pregnancy. The third treatment option is trichloroacetic acid, which destroys the proteins in the cells of the small and very hard warts. This is the only safe option during pregnancy.
Physical ablation involves: cryotherapy, excision, electrosurgery and laser surgery. Cryotherapy involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze the warts. It is used to treat warts affecting the genital area. Excision involves surgery by cutting away the warts and sealing the remaining incision with stitches. Electrosurgery is a combined treatment: first, excision is used to remove the wart and, then with a metal loop using electric current, the remaining part of the wart is burnt away. Laser surgery involves that the warts be burnt away with a laser.
Although there are many genital warts treatment possibilities, every person should consult a specialist in order to identify the best solution.