Genital warts, as its name implies, literally is a group of wart-like blisters in the genitals – namely the outside and/or inside the vagina, on the penis shaft and the anus.  As they are in very sensitive spots, it would be an understatement to describe genital warts as a highly inconvenient, irritating and embarrassing experience to have.

Genital warts are not just stinging or irritating to have, they are also highly contagious.  Passed on from one person to another through sexual contact, these hideous blisters can be transferred through a single contact, not necessarily amounting to a full sexual intercourse.  As such, treating genital warts, once they are diagnosed in a person, must be a priority with both the medical practitioner and the patient.

This can be hampered, however, by the embarrassment that comes from having to visit the doctor for diagnosis.  Before an accurate diagnosis can be made, probes into a person’s personal life, sexual preferences and choices have to be done and this can reveal a few previously unknown, unsavory habits.  Being dishonest about such issues with your doctor can seriously hamper the effective treatment for genital warts.  It has to be said, however, that the longer the delay in diagnosis and treatment, the worse the infection and the higher the chances and possibility of it being transferred to more persons.

While knowing your options for treating genital warts will not help much in reducing the initial embarrassment, it certainly will help you to decide on the next course of action.  To get rid of genital warts, you may wish to:

-    Undergo simple procedures that will be prescribed by the attending doctor

-    Use specific genital warts creams that are less invasive than the procedures offered

-    During treatment and when cured, to prevent recurrence of infection by practicing safe sex, abstaining for a certain time to allow a “cooling period” so remaining viruses are not reactivated

In getting rid of your genital warts, one of the following treatments will be suggested:

1.     Cryotherapy – like its name suggests, this means freezing the growths where they are so they do not develop any further or become infectious.  This method is highly popular as a first-line treatment for genital warts as it has no side effects and is effective.

2.    Sometimes, it is not that easy to rid the region of the warts.  They may recur soon after initial cure, or for the ones who have not learnt their lesson, return for another painful round.  For times like these, laser treatment may have to be resorted to.  Local or general anesthetic will be used while the laser burns off the lesions.
The downside to laser treatment for genital warts is scarring and a longer healing time, not to mention the high expense of the procedure itself.

3.    Similar to laser, high doses of electricity can be served to the infected spots.  This destroys the warts effectively and will be relatively painless with local anesthetic.  The plus side to this is that the whole procedure can be done in the doctor’s office itself.  A good point to note is that the resulting smoke itself from the “burning” is infectious.  The procedure should only be done in a room with proper ventilation.

4.    Surgery is the final option, which is not as serious as it sounds.  This method of literally cutting away the warts can be done out of the surgery with local anesthetic.  Best done for infections that are not extensive, this is the one procedure that is highly successful and has the lowest recurrence rates.

Less invasive methods of treating genital warts are also possible.  Genital warts creams can also be prescribed for those who may not take to such “drastic” course of actions mentioned earlier.

Some creams have to be applied by the doctor as they may be highly abrasive.  These have to be topically applied onto the specific area only.  Others, like podofilox, can be topically applied at home and have a high success rate of totally destroying the warts.  Podofilox is also extremely effective at prevention the warts from returning.

A new cream on the market, imiquimod, is pretty effective and easy to use.  However, it causes local skin irritation.

Be warned that some genital warts creams, while effective, may be uncomfortable or downright stinging upon application.  Before using any of these, make sure you get a full disclosure from the prescribing doctor on application, side effects and effectiveness.