Genital warts, also known as condylomata acuminate or veneral warts are caused due certain specific types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). One of the most common reasons for contracting HPV is going in for unprotected sex with someone infected. Genital warts can manifest in the form of white lumps of skin in or around penis or scrotum in men and vagina, cervix or anus in women. To get rid of genital warts, numerous methods of treatment are available today but one needs to go in for a proper diagnosis first.

Some of the conditions which can be easily mistaken for genital warts include pearly penile papules, in which skin-colored might appear in a cluster or ring-shape around the head of the penis or, sometimes, around the vulva. Angiokeratomas is another such condition, characterized by formation of blood-like blisters in the region. In yet another condition known as sebaceous glands or Fordyce spots, yellowish skin bumps might be found in the genital region. One must remember that apart from genital warts, all of skin conditions described here are non-infectious in nature and do not spread by means of sexual contact.

After initial transmission of HPV through sexual exposure, it can take upto three months for genital warts to appear and in certain cases, the HPV infection may not lead to physical symptoms in the form of warts. If suspecting HPV infection, pap smear test might be recommended by medical experts for confirmation of the same. In pap smear test, usually a swab is taken for testing specific strains of HPV relevant to the condition. If the diagnosis is confirmed, suitable genital warts medication might be recommended by the doctor.

A number of special topical drug treatments are available for the condition, which involve applying a prescribed medication on the warts. Using nonprescription treatments and lotions might only help worsen the situation further due to their non-suitability for treatment of genital warts. Some of these treatments might be meant for warts in other places and hence not sensitive enough for genital region, which can lead to itching or burning sensation if applied on the genital warts. Apart from topical treatments, a number of other methods can also be employed for getting rid of genital warts.

These methods of treatment include cryotherapy or cryocautery, which employs liquid nitrogen to temporarily freeze serious genital warts at an interval of one to three weeks for treating the condition effectively. Other highly specialized options include laser treatment, electrocautery and surgical excision which might be resorted to in case usual medications have failed to improve the condition. To begin with, one can make use of an effective genital warts medication in the form of podophyllin resin which is a brown liquid to be applied on the affected area.

One must make sure that only a medical professional applies the medication to avoid damaging any healthy tissue in the surrounding region. It is to be noted that during pregnancy, a woman should not resort to podophyllin treatment for genital warts, as it could harm the development of the child. Podofilox lotion or gel can serve as an alternative treatment for the condition. The medication is usually applied two times a day for three consecutive days followed by an interval of four days. To get rid of genital warts, this treatment schedule should be followed for four weeks in a row.

There have been efforts to develop effective vaccinations for treating various genital subtypes of HPV. One such effort led to the development of Gardasil vaccine that can be used to protect women from four specific strains of genital HPV. Two of these strains, including subtypes 6 and 11 are known to be responsible for nearly 90% of all genital warts. On the other hand, subtypes 16 and 18, also to be treated with the help of this vaccine, lead to nearly 70% of all cervical cancer cases reported amongst American women.

Today, one can seek professional advice and make good use of effective medications and treatments for getting rid of genital warts. However, it is equally important to be aware of the ways to prevent the condition from arising in the first instance itself. The first and foremost principle to be followed is this case is going in for proper protection during sexual contact which can be helpful only if it covers the affected areas. Maintaining excellent sexual health and personal hygiene also have say in the matter. In all cases, the condition is contagious and one should avoid sexual contact or sharing of towel or other such articles with the infected person to prevent the spread of infection.