Get Educated about Genital Wart Treatments
The human papilloma virus (HPV) can be blamed as the cause of all types of warts from those you get on your finger to genital warts. This virus comes in a variety of strains which cause different types of warts and can be contagious, especially during unprotected sex. That is why genital warts have the label of a sexually transmitted disease.
If you have genital warts, you should know that you do have a number of treatment options. Please keep in mind though that those genital wart treatments do not "cure" the problem as there is no cure for HPV.
General Notes on Genital Wart Treatments
The primary purpose of genital wart treatments is to remove any warts that can be seen in order to get rid of any symptoms you may be having such as general itching, burning sensations or even occasional bleeding. Removing these warts can reduce the risk of any of your sexual partners contracting HPV, although you should still practice safe sex!
When choosing your genital wart treatments, your doctor will take into account the size of your warts as well as how many you might have and where they are located. In addition, your wishes will be considered as well as the cost of the treatments, potential side effects and of course, what insurance may cover. Some genital wart treatments can be handled in the doctor's office with ease while others may require a hospital visit or even at-home treatment.
Primary Genital Wart Treatments to Consider
Unless your warts are rather prolific, spread all about your genital area, most doctors will want to start you on a topical cream or chemical gel. Some of these topical genital wart treatments must be applied by a doctor or nurse practitioner inside an office or clinical setting while others can be applied at home. Podofilox and Imiquiod are two of these topical agents that can be self-applied to external warts only.
Some warts located in particularly sensitive areas like inside the rectum, urethra and cervix require alternate therapies. In these particular cases, genital wart treatments may include cryotherapy, surgical excision and electrocautery. Cryotherapy involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze off the warts while electrocautery is the use of electricity to burn the warts off. Surgical excision requires a more formal clinical setting as it involves the cutting off of the warts.
Genital wart treatments are not a one size fits all option because everyone's body is different as well as their tolerance for pain. Between you and your doctor, you have to decide what is best for you and what would be the most successful option to eradicate those warts. And remember, genital wart treatments are only a temporary measure as warts can grow back, thanks to HPV.