Genital warts are the result of sexually transmitted infections. Genital warts are caused by having unprotected sex with an infected partner. It occurs in the genital area and anus and rectum of both men and women.

Genital wart treatment options are many. The first line of treatment is cryotherapy. Here the wart is frozen using liquid nitrogen. There are few side effects and no anesthesia is required. For extensive spread of warts, laser treatment is prescribed. This requires anesthesia – local or general – depending on the condition of the patient. In electrodessication the wart is burnt using an electric current. This is done under local anesthesia. One problem here is that the resulting smoke plume may be infectious.

Other genital warts treatment includes medications. Plenty of genital wart medication is available and these are applied locally. There are also injections that cure these warts. Cutting away the warts is also an option that should be explored.

Whichever option your doctor recommends the treatment will take some time. And you have to abstain from sexual activity during the treatment period. One can also approach a qualified dermatologist to check the condition.

Warts can cause bleeding in women. Men need to approach a doctor immediately if a wart obstructs the flow of urine in the urethra.

In general, as with other sexually transmitted diseases, prevention is easier than the cure. It can be prevented by wearing a condom during intercourse with an infected partner.

The warts are flesh colored or gray growths and are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). It is highly contagious and a single sexual contact is enough to infect a person. As some HPV can cause cancer or pre cancerous malignancy, especially in women, it is best to go in for a thorough check up if one has genital warts. Most genital warts develop within three months of sexual contact.

Though genital warts are generally painless, they can be bothersome because of their location and size. They can also cause itching. In women it can lead to bleeding or vaginal discharge after intercourse.

As the warts themselves are infectious, avoid touching them or squeezing them.

Another fear is that of repeat infections caused by repeated sexual contact with an infected partner. It is best to avoid this and wait for a complete cure.

Pregnancy appears to cause the virus to become visible. This not only makes delivery more difficult, but can also infect the new born. This is a very critical condition for the new born as the virus spreads rapidly, blocking the airways and preventing the ability to breathe.

As stated above, once you suspect an infection, please do approach a doctor and follow the prescribed medical treatment – whether of surgery or injection or medication. Refrain from sexual intercourse during the infection period or use some form of protection to avoid infecting your partner. If necessary visit a dermatologist as well. Avoid touching or squeezing the wart as it is highly infectious. If you are pregnant, then consult a qualified doctor about the warts immediately. This is a must to save the life of your baby. Men too should consult a doctor if their urethra is infected. Women must undergo a pap smear test to rule out cervical cancer.

With these precautions in place and medications to take, the virus that causes the warts can be controlled easily. The point is to control the spread of this virus by taking the necessary precautions.

Never worry about what has happened, but go in quickly for a cure. Also, take care that you are not the cause of spreading it to another person.

Though genital warts disappear with treatment, they are likely to come back after showing a good initial response to the treatment. This can be due to the potentially long incubation period of the virus that causes these warts. Another reason could be the persistence of the virus in the surrounding skin or hair follicle. Recurrence can also be because of deep lesions or lesions that cannot be detected.

Whatever the reason, it is best to go in for treatment and complete the course of medication as prescribed by the doctor or medical practitioner. Keep your chin up and follow the treatment.