Genital warts are a common problem that are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is considered to be a sexually transmitted disease, although it is possible to contract this virus and develop genital warts without actually having sex. Genital warts are categorized by their shape and location and can be treated with everything from creams to lasers. Doctors can remove warts in the office, or medications can be prescribed for treatment at home.http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/hpv-treatment-is-there-hpv-cure?page=2

Warts caused by the HPV virus can grow on every part of your body including the skin, inside of the mouth and the genital area.familydoctor.org: Warts Warts are transmitted through direct contact with a person who is infected with the HPV virus as well as indirect contact in areas such as swimming pools and bathrooms.PubMed Central Clinical Medicine & Research: An Armamentarium of Wart Treatments (December 2006)

• According to WebMD, genital warts affect 20 million Americans. As many as 6.2 million people contract them each year.WebMD: Understanding Genital Warts Genital warts appear as small growths around the genital area that can be flesh-colored, pink or red. They have a rough texture that is often described as cauliflower-like. They are not usually painful, but may bleed and itch.WebMD: Sex and Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus or HPV) They can be very tiny (about 1 millimeter) and sometimes appear in clusters.
  1. According to McKinley Health Center, less than 5 percent of people with genital HPV will develop warts.McKinley Health Center: Genital Warts
  2. Of the 100 types of HPV viruses, WebMD states that 30 of them are transmitted through sexual contact (oral, vaginal or anal).WebMD: Understanding Genital Warts
  3. Condoms do not offer total protection against genital warts, according to McKinley Health Center.McKinley Health Center: Genital Warts
  4. Two-thirds of people who are intimate with an infected partner will get genital warts, according to WebMD.WebMD: Understanding Genital Warts
  5. McKinley Health Center advises that over-the-counter treatments are not intended and should not be used to treat genital warts.McKinley Health Center: Genital Warts
  6. Two strains of HPV (HPV-16 and HPV-18) account for about 70 percent of cervical cancers.WebMD: Sex and Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus or HPV)
  7. A vaccine has been approved that protects against four strains of the HPV virus.WebMD: Sex and Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus or HPV) For more information about the vaccine, check out the Centers for Disease Control's site on the human papillomavirus.Centers for Disease Control: Human Papillomavirus Infection

• Although there are a variety of treatment options, genital wart remedies are typically only available from your physician. Currently there is no cure for the HPV virus. Instead, treatment will simply eliminate the signs and symptoms of the virus. Not all treatments are fully effective in all patients.PubMed Central Clinical Medicine & Research: An Armamentarium of Wart Treatments (December 2006) Some of the more popular treatments used are listed below.

• A 0.5% solution or gel of podofilox (condylox) can be used to treat genital warts. It is applied to the wart twice a day three times a week for three to four weeks.McKinley Health Center: Genital Warts It can not be applied internally and is not recommended during pregnancy.MayoClinic.com: Genital Warts

• Podophyllin is a chemical that can burn wart tissue. It is applied in the doctor's office and usually requires multiple visits.McKinley Health Center: Genital Warts A purified form of podophyllin called podophyllotoxin is available for patient use.Skin Care Guide: Wart Treatment by Type of Drug and Procedure

• Cyrotherapy involves using liquid nitrogen to freeze the wart. It is relatively painless and works by causing a blister to form under the wart.MayoClinic.com: Common Warts It typically requires more than one office visit.MayoClinic.com: Genital Warts It can be used in combination with other treatments.Skin Care Guide: Wart Treatment by Type of Drug and Procedure

• Surgery can be done by either cutting away the wart tissue or using an electrical current applied with a needle to burn off warts, known as electrodesiccation or electrocautery.MayoClinic.com: Genital Warts It requires the a local anesthetic and can cause scarring.Skin Care Guide: Wart Treatment by Type of Drug and Procedure Surgery can leave a scar and is usually reserved for warts that haven't responded to other treatment.MayoClinic.com: Common Warts

• Immunotherapy is designed to use your own immune system to destroy the wart. These methods are usually more expensive and dangerous, so they are typically considered after other methods have failed.WebMD: Warts and Plantar Warts-Topic Overview
  1. Imiquimod (Aldara) can be used for both genital and common warts.MayoClinic.com: Common Warts It can weaken condoms and diaphragms.MayoClinic.com: Genital Warts
  2. Interferon is an antiviral drug that is injected into the wart. It can have toxic side effects and is expensive.McKinley Health Center: Genital Warts

• Trichoroacetic acid (TCA) is a chemical treatment that burns wart tissue. It must be applied by a doctor and usually requires more than one office visit.MayoClinic.com: Genital WartsMcKinley Health Center: Genital Warts There is a higher chance of recurrence when using and it may cause pain and burning.eMedicineHealth.com: Genital Warts (HPV)

Perhaps the most effective way to treat genital warts is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. There are several steps that can be taken to guard against the HPV virus:

1. Vaccines: There are a number of vaccines available that can prevent people from contracting HPV. Although there are many strains of the virus and no vaccine can protect against all of them, some of the more common varieties (many of which cause genital warts and other complications) can be stopped. Vaccines are typically given to youth and young adults between the ages of 9 and 26. Examples of HPV vaccines are Gardasil and Cervarix.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/genital-warts/DS00087/DSECTION=prevention
2. Avoiding sexual contact: If you notice that you or your partner may have genital warts (or any other STD), you can prevent it from spreading by avoiding sexual contact. This includes genital, anal, manual or oral sex.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/genital-warts/DS00087/DSECTION=prevention
3. Condoms: Using a condom every time you have sex (including oral sex) can greatly reduce the chances of spreading the HPV virus. However, it is still possible to catch or spread genital warts even when a condom is used.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/genital-warts/DS00087/DSECTION=prevention

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.