What are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are contagious soft growths that appear in the genital, or anal area. Genital warts are one of the most common types of sexually transmitted infections. They are generally flesh-colored and are in the form of small projections on the skin. If several genital warts are clustered together, they may look like a cauliflower. In other cases, they are too small to be noticeable. Genital warts affect both men and women, but women are more vulnerable to complications. For a woman, they can appear on or near the vulva, cervix, inside or outside of the vaginal canal or the anus. For men, they can appear near, or on the penis, scrotum, groin and anus.
Why Should Genital Warts be Treated?
Genital warts are the most dangerous for women, as they can cause problems during pregnancy. Warts on the vaginal wall may reduce the ability of the vaginal tissue to stretch during childbirth. Warts can also spread to an infant during birth if the mother has genital warts. These warts, if not treated, can grow bigger. You also risk infecting your partner this way. In some cases, these become malignant tumors and can cause cancer. Genital Warts Removal in Islamabad, Rawalpindi & Pakistan can be your source of guidance and treatment.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment options help to reduce the symptoms (reduce or remove warts) but do not cure the virus. There isn’t any treatment for the virus itself. Medications are used, which can be directly put on to the skin. These include mainly ointments, resin, or solutions. This may include creams that help to boost the immune system against fighting warts, plant-based resins that might directly remove warts, and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), which burns of warts and can be used for internal ones as well.
Imiquimod – this is a cream that boost’s the patient’s immune system and directs it towards fighting warts. A side effect of this cream is redness.
Podophyllin – it is a plant-based resin that directly destroys the wart tissue
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) – burns off warts. It can also be used for internal warts.
It is not advisable to try over-the-counter wart removers for genital warts. They are not formulated for sensitive skin
Despite all of these, they cannot work for larger warts. Larger warts that do not respond to medication can be removed by surgery. Surgical options might include:
Cryotherapy, or cryosurgery:
the most common way. Freezing warts using extremely cold temperature and breaking them off through “cold burns”, liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and break off them from the skin. The treatment is done after every 7 days, and 7 sessions are done and allowed only. Healing usually takes about three to four treatments
Electrocautery :
Another way of burning, but through the electric charge that is guided by a needle-like instrument at warts. A low voltage electrified probe is used to burn warts around the anus, the vulva, and the penis.
Laser Treatments:
Laser Treatments are most likely to not leave any scarring behind or feel any pain. These have given the best-desired results. This may be done inside the clinic and performed by your doctor. You might be given local, or general anesthesia depending upon the kind and amount of warts you have. You might feel pain afterward, although this procedure brings comfort quicker and easier.
Surgical Removal (excision) :
In this method, the surgeon gives you local, or general anesthesia according to the size and area of warts, and physically cuts them off using surgical tools. This may result in extreme discomfort after the surgery even if you were given anesthesia. Until you heal, over-the-counter medications for pain are available and can be used
How Do I Know that I Have Genital Warts and Should Consult a Doctor?
Genital warts cause a few symptoms. They typically appear one to eight months following exposure to the HPV virus that causes it. They may include:
- Several warts clustered into the shape of a cauliflower
- Small, flesh-colored swellings in the genitals
- Pain, itching in the genital area
- Bleeding during intercourse
- Redness in the genital areas
What to Expect When I Come for Diagnosis?
When you come for diagnosis for Genital Warts Removal in Islamabad, Rawalpindi & Pakistan, the doctor will ask you questions regarding yourself. The questions may be regarding your health, symptoms, and sexual history. The doctor will then also perform a physical examination of any suspected areas where warts may be occurring. During the examination, a special solution of mild (diluted) acetic acid might be applied to your genitals to whiten any warts. A colposcope is a user to view them. This is because genital warts sometimes are difficult to detect. A biopsy might be taken for diagnosis.
To know about the kinds of options for treatment available for you feel free to contact us and book an appointment with our highly qualified professionals