Research and Treatment
HPV-Genital Warts, Treatment Options
There are many different opinions about how to treat genital warts. The guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include the following treatment information:
- The goal of treatment should be to remove visible genital warts and get rid of annoying symptoms.
- Podofilox solution or gel is a patient-applied treatment for external genital warts. It is relatively cheap, easy to use, and safe.
- Imiquimod cream is a patient-applied treatment for external genital warts and perianal warts. It is safe, effective, easy to use, and offers an alternative to tissue-destructive therapies.
- Cryotherapy (freezing off the wart with liquid nitrogen) is relatively inexpensive, but must be performed by a trained health care provider.
- Podophyllin is a chemical compound that must be applied by a health care provider.
- Trichloracetic acid (TCA) is another chemical applied to the surface of the wart by a physician.
- Laser therapy (using an intense light to destroy the warts) or surgery (cutting off the warts) has the advantage of getting rid of warts in a single office visit. However, treatment can be expensive and the health care provider must be well-trained in these methods.
- The antiviral drug interferon is sometimes used, but less expensive therapies work just as well with less discomfort.
Factors that might influence selection of treatment include size, location, and number of warts, changes in the warts, patient preference, cost of treatment, convenience, adverse effects, and provider experience.
Whatever the treatment, here are some important points to remember:
- Ask your doctor for an explanation of the treatment, including its costs and likely benefits.
- Avoid treatments which cause bad side effects or scarring.
- Be sure you understand the follow-up instructions, such as what to do about discomfort and when to come back to the office or clinic.
- Be patient--treatment often takes several visits and a variety of approaches.
- If you are pregnant or think you might be, tell your doctor so he or she can choose a treatment that won't be harmful to you or to your baby.
- Don't use drug store treatments for warts. These are not meant for sensitive genital skin.
- Some experts suggest avoiding sexual contact with the infected area during treatment. This is partly to protect the treated area of skin from friction and help it heal.
- Contact your trained healthcare proffesional for information on HPV and genital warts
- Contact ASHA for additional information.
