In medical circle, it is known as Condylomata acuminata. It is a highly infectious sexually transmitted disease, caused by some sub types of human papillomavirus (strains 6, 11, 30, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52 and 54). These viruses are directly transmitted by having genital, anal or oral sex with an infected partner. As these viruses usually manifest themselves as highly painful warts in the genital area, they are also known as genital warts, venereal warts, anal wart etc. However, genital is not the only place where you can have these warts. They can also occur inside the mouth, if you have oral sex with an infected partner.

Although there is no cure for human papillomavirus, there are methods to treat visible warts that can reduce infectivity. The problem is that not all warts are visible. If a person does not have genital warts, does not mean that he is free from human papillomavirus or HPV. Sadly, less than 1% of those who are affected grow the clinically obvious warts, but they can transmit the virus to their sexual partner all the same. In other words, a HPV infected person may have or may not have genital warts. On the other hand having genital warts means that the person is infected with HPV and such a person should start treatment as soon as possible.

Although there is no cure for human papillomavirus, the genial warts can be treated successfully. The treatment of genital warts can be divided into two categories, i.e. – patient applied and doctor applied. The doctor-applied treatment includes:
1.    Liquid Nitrogen cryosurgery – It is a safe method even for pregnant women. It kills warts almost 75% of the time. However, recurrence of warts after 6 months is common. Infection has also been reported.
2.    Trichloroacetic acid – It is less effective than cryosurgery and is not safe for use in vagina, cervix etc.
3.    Surgical excision –It is best for large warts, but it leaves scars behind.
4.     Laser Ablation – It is not very effective and is very expensive at the same time. It is often used as last resort.
5.    A 20% podophyllin anti-mitotic solution – It is applied locally and then is washed off. Reported reaction include fever, nausea confusion etc.
6.    Interferon – it is also used in the treatment of genital warts, but though it is very expensive, its effects are inconsistent.

On the other hand, the cure for genital warts is provided by many self-applied medications more effectively.  Some of these self-applied medications promise to cure genital warts from the root. ‘Heal wart’ is one such herbal medication, which promises to draw the warts from the roots upward without burning or any kind of skin irritation. Warts drawn out from the roots in this way cannot reappear once more. You just have to apply the formula on the genital wart using q-tip or your fingers. Since it is concentrated, you need to apply only one or two drops (depending on the size of the wart) each time.

Imiquimod is an immune response genital wart cream that has to be applied to the local area. It activates the immune cells through the toll-like receptor 7, commonly used for pathogen recognition on the cell surface. However, nonspecific inflammation or dermatitis can occur during the application of imiquimod on genital warts, especially where the skin is traumatized by scratching or between the skin folds.

A 0.15 to 0.5% podophyllotoxin (also known as podofilox) solution used as gel or cream also provides cure for genital warts. Podophyllotoxin is marketed as Condylox, Wartec, and Warticon etc. These genital wart creams have to be applied locally and unlike podophyllin anti-mitotic solution, need not washed off later on.

Sinecatechins is an ointment made from green tea and other components. These are marketed as Veregen and Polyphenon E ointment. These ointments have a higher clearance rate than imiquimod or podophyllotoxin, but take longer time to clear. They also cause lees skin irritation than imiquimod or podophyllotoxin.

Genital warts can be very embarrassing and so many such patients buy off the counter medicines and start applying them. Many online sites also sell genital wart cream. One can buy them online without revealing his or her identity.  However, such practices should be strictly discouraged because not all wart-like growths in the genital are Condylomata acuminata. These can be Molluscum Contagiosum or Fordyce’s spots or even Hirsuties papillaries genitalis. Therefore, you should see a doctor and have it diagnosed before embarking on treatment of genital warts.