Effective Genital Wart Removal Methods
July 26, 2008 · Print This Article
Genital warts are categorized as one form of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). They result from the infection of a specific type of human papilloma virus (HPV) causing a wide-range of wart types in the body. .From the word itself, genital warts spread through the genital regions of the body including but not limited to the regions near vagina, the cervix and rectum infecting both men and women through unprotected sexual activity.
Some subtypes of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are one of the leading causes of cervical cancers in the US with more than 2 million people currently infected. HPV subtypes that cause visible warts are different from the one causing cervical cancers although it was shown in laboratory and medical studies that people manifesting visible warts may also have a greater chances of infection with cancer-causing virus.
Prevention and Symptoms
Genital Warts are usually asymptomatic, meaning they do not cause sensational irritation. This same reason makes it very difficult for patients and medical practitioners as well to combat the developing sexually transmitted disease.
Moreover, genital warts do not take on an immediate visual appearance upon infection. Usually, it takes more than 5 to 6 months before the viewable characteristic manifest on the skin. During this time, you can infect other people during risky, unprotected sexual intercourse and pass it from one person to another.
While it is important to take appropriate treatments for such diseases, there are simple ways by which you and your doctor can fully identify the early signs of the development of genital warts. .
• Unusual bumpy, cauliflower-like structure on the surface of the skin usually developing near the moist area of the genitals such as the anal area, near the opening of the vagina, the cervix, etc. .
• Itchy, and burning sensation on the site of the unusually, small (1 millimeter to 2 millimeters) and flesh-colored structure. .
• Medical doctors usually perform tissue biopsy (taking in small piece of suspected tissue for laboratory examination) or colposcopy through the use of an instrument (colposcope) in magnifying the suspected tissue in question. .
• Another method of determining genital warts is by undergoing Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. Pap smears provide clues as to the existence of the virus when examined uner the microscope.
Treatment
Medications employed in the treatment of genital warts are effective in removing and relieving symptoms associated with the said disease. Initial treatment may produce outstanding results though recurrence is usually possible.
Among the most popular treatment are the following: .
• Cryotherapy, a treatment that makes use of liquid nitrogen, where genital warts tissue are frozen and die. .
• Laser Treatment – Among the treatment used in the removal of genital warts, lasers are proven to be the most effective. They go deep into the root of the genital warts and kill one clump of them in one administration. .
• Surgery – Surgery is one treatment used in removing bulky, numerous and visible genital warts. This option is usually not encouraged for the surgery of warts usually causes proliferation of warts to other parts of the body. Tissue and blood drawn from parts proximal to the warty portion are enough to infect normal, healthy tissues. .
• Topical Creams and other prescription drugs such as salicylic acids. Salicylic acid works best in burning the infected area. This medication works by way of applying a small amount of liquid salicylic acid on the area of infection and allow it to flake away. This is applied once a day usually after taking a bath. Salicylic works best when the skin is damp. .
• Alpha-Interferon Injections are used as the last option for the removal of genital warts. Alpha-interferons are injectible medications used by doctors for treating severe cases of genital warts. The chemical is injected on the portion of the skin manifesting genital wart.
