Genital Warts: Prevention, Diagnosis And Treatment

Genital warts — the name of this common sexually transmitted disease basically speaks for itself. Caused by certain types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), genital warts are raised bumps on the skin around the genitals.

Get infected with a strain of HPV that can lead to genital warts, and you may get warts almost immediately. Or, warts could turn up months or even years later. You may have a few warts, or you may have lots. They may be small or large, and they may come in clusters or on their own. The penis, scrotum, vulva, vagina, cervix and anus can all be affected, and it is even possible to get genital warts in your mouth or throat (that's pretty rare though).

Like all sexually transmitted diseases, genital warts can be transmitted during unprotected sexual intercourse. There's a catch, though: you can still get genital parts if you and your sex partner use condoms. There will be skin to skin contact regardless of condom use, after all, and the parts that touch could just have genital warts. Even scarier, you can get genital warts even if your partner doesn't have visible warts. Being a carrier of the “right” strain of HPV — usually type 6 or 11 — is enough.

Preventing Genital Warts

As with all sexually transmitted diseases, total abstinence is the only completely secure way to avoid being infected with a strain of HPV that causes genital warts. You are probably not going to make that decision, so it is good to know that there are many other things you can also do to minimize your risk of ending up with this nasty STD.

Being monogamous and only having sex with one person, who also doesn't have any other partners, is your best bet if you want to avoid genital warts and other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are in a new relationship, both get tested for STDs before having sex without a condom. Should genital warts still turn up at some point, don't automatically assume that your partner has been unfaithful — genital warts can appear months or even years after infection, so you or your partner may have picked a stain of HPV up in a previous relationship without ever knowing it.

Some people will, of course, end up taking some risks and decide to have sex with multiple partners. Those who do this should always use condoms, and that will reduce the risk of contracting most sexually transmitted diseases greatly. It doesn't sound very romantic, but to lessen the chance that you'll get genital warts, you should also visually inspect your new partner for bumps around the genitals. This enables you to avoid having sex with someone who has visible warts, but it doesn't keep you safe from someone who was infected with HPV but has no warts.

Finally, it's good to inspect your own genitals regularly to see if you are showing any signs of genital warts if you think you could possibly be at risk. Every sexually active person should also be tested for other STDs on a regular basis. If you are not sure how often you should get STD testing, discuss it with your sexual health clinic, your OBGYN, or your family doctor.

Genital Warts — The Diagnosis

“HPV”, or Human Papilloma Virus, is actually a collection of more than 150 different but related viruses. In the United States, HPVs are the most common type of sexually transmitted disease. They're divided into two different groups: high-risk and low-risk HPVs.

High-risk HPVs can cause cancer. The good news is that the types that cause genital warts are the low-risk ones. As much as 90 percent of all genital warts are caused by HPV types 6 and 11. If you think you have genital warts, you don't have to worry that the type of HPV that caused the warts is also going to give you cancer. However, it is not unusual for people to have several different HPV infections at the same time. Since high-risk strains of HPV can cause cancer, it is important to get a PAP smear if you have genital warts too, just in cause you have more than one type of HPV.

Genital warts are diagnosed through a physical examination. A biopsy is possible but rarely performed, because a visual inspection is usually more than enough to confirm the presence of genital warts.

Once you are diagnosed with genital warts, you will be able to get treatment to attempt to get rid of the warts. There is another important reason to see your healthcare provider if you have what you think are genital warts anywhere on or near your genitals, though — you may have another disease instead, like hemorrhoids, syphilis, or even skin cancer.

Treating Genital Warts: Your Options

Once you have been diagnosed with genital warts, you have several treatment options. The route you choose is going to depend on your personal circumstances. We'll take a look at your options, and discuss the pros and cons of each treatment.

Waiting For Your Body To Clear The Warts

Your immune system will try to fight the type of HPV that caused your genital warts, so it is possible that your body will get rid of the virus and the warts by itself. Some people who have genital warts therefore choose not to undergo a medical treatment of genital warts. Instead, they may try to boost their immune system by consuming plenty of vitamin C and eating a very healthy diet.

Waiting for your body to clear the HPV out of your system may be a good option for you if you are currently single and not having sex. People who know they have genital warts should take extreme precautions when it comes to sexual contact with anyone else, because they may transmit the HPV. If you're pregnant, waiting is also not a good idea. In some cases newborns can become infected with HPV and end up with genital warts in their throat, which can be dangerous.

Natural Treatments

Genital warts, a manifestation of the human papillomavirus, can be an uncomfortable and distressing condition for many. While modern medicine provides a range of effective treatments, some individuals gravitate towards natural remedies, seeking holistic and less invasive approaches. In the realm of botanicals and natural substances, several have been purported to offer relief or even potential resolution for this ailment.

Below, we explore some of these revered natural treatments:

1. Tea Tree Oil: Derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, tea tree oil has antiviral and antiseptic properties. It can be applied diluted to the affected area, but caution is needed as it can be irritating to the skin.

2. Green Tea Extract: Sold as a prescription ointment under the name Veregen, this is a botanical product approved for treating genital warts. Its active ingredient, sinecatechins, is believed to have an antiviral effect.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar: Some claim that applying apple cider vinegar to warts can help dissolve them. However, it can be very irritating and might cause burns, especially on sensitive genital skin.

4. Garlic: Allicin, a compound found in garlic, is believed to have antiviral properties. Some people crush garlic cloves to form a paste and apply it to warts, although this can be irritating to the skin.

5. Echinacea: Known for its immune-boosting properties, Echinacea can be consumed as a tea or supplement. While it may not directly treat the wart, it might help bolster the immune system to combat HPV, the virus causing the warts.

Creams To Remove Genital Warts

Several topical creams are available to treat genital warts. These usually require a prescription, so you'll have the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of different treatments with your healthcare provider. Common topical treatments are:

• Podofilox, which is available as a gel or a solution. You'll apply this at home twice daily for three days, and then observe a four-day rest period. You can use Podofilox up to four of these cycles. It may not be safe during pregnancy.

• Imiquimod is applied once daily three times a week, for a maximum of 16 weeks. Patients have to wash the treatment area six to 10 hours after they applied the treatment, and they should be aware that the treatment can affect the efficacy of condoms and diaphragms. Once again, this treatment has not been proven to be safe during pregnancy.

• Sinecatechin can also be used for up to 16 weeks, but patients need to apply apply it three times daily and don't wash it off. This treatment is not suitable for those who are HIV positive, have genital herpes and... you guessed it, those who are pregnant.

Freezing, Burning, And Surgically Removing Genital Warts

Freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), burning, and surgically removing genital warts have a definite advantage: warts can be eliminated fairly quickly. Different options may be available to you depending on where you live, but it's clear that all of these treatments need to be carried out by skilled professionals such as OBGYNs. Patients will generally receive local anesthesia to have these procedures done, but may experience considerable discomfort afterwards.

This last category of treatment is particularly suitable for pregnant women — and their partners, since you don't want to be reinfecting either other. Genital warts are also, unfortunately, more likely to recur quickly during pregnancy, because of a weakened immune system. The same holds true for people who are HIV positive. If warts reappear, you may need another round of treatment.