How to Treat Genital Warts?
Sunday, November 15th, 2009Genital warts are very infectious and accounts for the reason of their continued prevalence but they also need to be treated early before they grow large. Although some people would like to claim otherwise, both male and female forms are passed on through sex and are the result of one strain of the human papillomavirus family that they all belong too. Genital warts may take some time to develop which means someone who is infected can carry it around and pass it on easily (a condom does not always prevent this virus); women who have then internally may be unaware of the infection for some time.
Contact with an affected person is no guarantee they will spread immediately because they may not develop for months or sometimes many years.Once a person is infected, they too become a carrier, unwittingly promoting the virus. To date more than 100 human papillomavirus viruses have been discovered but the one that causes ano-genital warts is called human papillomavirus 6 (HPV6). Normally a person becomes aware of warts as they can be seen and felt but those inside a woman’s cervix will probably only be discovered when she has a gynecological examination.

Women may display some additional discharge as genital warts may cause the area around them to be moister than other areas and it is this condition which promotes their growth. Liquid nitrogen is still the method of choice for wart removal for doctors and dermatologists as the very cold temperature destroys the skin and tissue but it normally takes more than one treatment. Whether liquid nitrogen is used is for the doctor or dermatologist to decide as it is not suitable for all locations even though it is quite painless.
Your doctor may get electro-cautery or surgical excision to remove the wart and lasers have emerged as a good option. Every method is dependant on the location of the infection but they are persistent and even if they are successfully removed, they can return at a later date. Another topical treatment for genital warts is imiquimod, and while it has been formulated to help the immune system fight the infection, the liquid does not kill the virus directly nor can it stop others from forming.
Before using imiquimod it is a good idea to consult with the doctor first because there are instances where it cannot be used as a treatment, including when a woman is pregnant,it also has restrictions on it’s use inside the vagina and genitals or when the skin around the area is inflamed. Like all edications, imiquimod has side effects and if these are experienced it should be stopped immediately but this is worth discussing with your doctor prior to using it. As with any information based on a medical problem, full information and options on genital warts should ideally be sought from a physician as this article is for general background only.
