QUESTION: I am plagued by genital warts, and feel there must be some treatment that can offer me the hope of being rid of this hateful situation. What should be done to remove these things from my body?
ANSWER: There are several possible treatments that you can obtain to help you, though I must warn you that there is no one perfect solution to your problem.
Genital warts (and anal warts too) are the result of an infection by a virus, the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Some recent research has linked this condition to the development of genital cancers, and it is recommended that you have a Pap smear before any treatment is started so that the results may be used to help guide the physician in deciding upon the best treatment in your case.
The most widely used treatment is the use of podophyllin and tincture of benzoin, a solution which may be applied directly to the lesions. Several applications may be necessary before all the warts have been destroyed.
If after 4 treatments the area is still not free of lesions, an alternative procedure may be tried.
These include cryotherapy (freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen or solid carbon dioxide), burning the lesions with electrosurgery, or surgical removal.
Some physicians advise using cryotherapy as a first line of attack, but in any case, the treatment should be individualized, taking into consideration the number of warts, their location, whether or not the patient is pregnant, and the failure of any other type of treatments that might have been tried.
None of this is too pleasant, so you will need some patience and fortitude to see the process through to the end, for it is important that you have the condition cared for.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
