Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 March 2010 22:01

Genital Warts Treatment

Treatment of genital warts includes medicines and surgery. The underlying virus can not be completely removed and the genital warts may reappear even after treatment.

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It is important that both you and your partner receive medical aid. Genital warts are easy to treat when they are small and few, but at times the treatment can last for months.

Medication Treatments for Genital Warts

Creams available for the treatment of genital warts include:

• Imiquimod: This cream may boost your immune system's ability to fight genital warts.

• Podofilox: Podofilox destroys the tissue of genital warts. Hence it has to be applied only on the warts and not the surrounding skin. It is not meant for internal application e.g. for warts inside your vagina or cervix. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.

• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA): This is a chemical that burns off genital warts. The chemical must be handled carefully and must always be applied by a doctor.

Avoid the use of over-the-counter medications as they are not intended for use in the moist tissues of the genital area.

Surgical treatments for genital warts

Surgery is advised for large warts and especially during pregnancy. Surgical treatments include:

• Cryotherapy (Freezing with liquid nitrogen): This procedure causes a blister to form around your wart. As your skin heals, the lesions fall off and new skin appears. However, you may need repeated Cryotherapy sittings.

• Electrocautery: Electrical current is used to burn off warts. Surgical excision: Your doctor can cut off the warts after you are given local anaesthesia.

• Laser treatments: This procedure uses an intense beam of light to remove the warts. It is an expensive procedure advised only for very extensive and difficult-to-treat warts.