Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), for which there is no cure. As such, treatments for genital warts only aim to remove the visible warts and do not prevent them from returning. Treatments for genital warts include topical medications, such as creams and ointments, and surgical procedures, such as freezing, excision, and laser removal.
Best Genital warts treatment are warts that appear on or near the genitals or. There are various treatments for genital warts, which include medications, surgical procedures, and home remedies.
What are genital warts?
Every year, about 400,000 people in the United States contract genital warts. HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90% of all cases of genital warts.
Around 30% of genital warts will go away on their own within 4 months of appearing. Similarly, about 90% of HPV infections will resolve themselves within 2 years of infection. However, it’s important to note that this virus can have a latency period. This means that symptoms may appear or reoccur months or years after the initial infection.
Causes
An individual may develop genital warts from HPV through skin-to-skin contact during unprotected genital or with someone who has the virus. In very rare cases, warts may also develop from giving or receiving oral with a partner who has genital warts on their mouth or in their genital area.
There is also a small chance that people can pass genital warts to a newborn during vaginal delivery.
Symptoms
- If you have genital warts, you may notice:
- flesh-colored warts in a range of sizes from large to very small
- warts appearing in or around the, cervix, or groin
- warts on the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat (although these are very rare)
- itching, burning, or discomfort where the warts appear
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When to get treatment
If a person has genital warts that are not causing discomfort, they may not need to seek medical attention, as some genital wart outbreaks clear on their own, without treatment.
However, people should get medical attention and treatment if their genital warts are growing, spreading, or causing pain or discomfort. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) recommends a person contact a doctor to confirm genital warts and relieve uncomfortable symptoms. Additionally, researchTrusted Source recommends against seeking treatment for subclinical, or invisible, warts.
Topical medications and treatments
There are several topical treatments that have been proven effective against genital warts. These treatments include:
- -Medications that prevent cell division, such as a podophyllotoxin solution in a gel or cream
- -Immune system enhancers in a topical cream, such as imiquimod
- -An ointment of catechins, which come from green tea and can help reduce HPV genes
- -Trichloroacetic acid to dissolve warts by dissolving the protein in them
A doctor will decide whether any of these treatments are suitable for a person, as they are not suitable for everyone. While they are generally safe, they may have some side effects, including:
The duration and frequency of the treatment with topical medication for genital warts will vary depending on the medication. However, most cases of genital warts will respond to treatment within 3 monthsTrusted Source.
Topical treatments for genital warts are medications that are applied directly to the skin. These medications can help to relieve symptoms such as skin irritation, pain, and flu-like symptoms. Topical treatments may also help to reduce the risk for fungal infections. Some of these treatments may cause damage to the skin around the warts, so a healthcare professional may need to apply certain treatments in a clinical setting.
Surgical treatments and procedures
Trusted Source Doctors may sometimes suggest procedures to get rid of warts. These types of treatments are more effective for bigger warts, or warts that have keratinized. They can include:
- Freezing warts off with liquid nitrogen by using cryosurgery
- Cutting warts out
- Destroying warts with an electric current in a procedure called electrocautery
- Laser treatment
