Genital Warts Treatment

Genital Warts Overview

Genital warts are one of the most common types of sexually transmitted infections, which are caused by a virus known as the human papillomavirus (HPV). Almost everyone who is sexually active will become infected with at least one form of this virus at some point in their life.

They look like small, flesh-coloured bumps and sometimes have an appearance that resembles cauliflower. They are so small that they are not visible in a lot of cases. They occur in the moist tissues of the genital area.

The HPV virus that causes genital warts comes in different strains; some cause genital warts, others can cause cancer. You can be vaccinated against certain strains of genital HPV.

Genital Warts Symtoms

The most common symptoms of genital warts are:

• Bleeding when you have sex
• Itching or discomfort in your genital area
• Small, flesh-coloured brown or pink lumps around your genital area
• A cluster of warts close together that have a cauliflower-like shape

Men may develop genital warts on the tip or shaft of the penis, or on the scrotum or anus.

Women can develop warts on:

• The vaginal walls
• The vulva
• The area between the external genitals and the anus
• The anal canal
• The cervix

Are you sure you have warts?

Genital warts can be so small and/or flat that they are barely visible. In rare instances, they can multiply into large clusters; this may happen if you have a suppressed immune system.

Once you get the infection, it may take weeks or even months for the symptoms to appear.

If you or your partner develop any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor.

Causes of genital warts

There are more than 40 different strains of HPV that can affect your genital area. Almost always, genital warts are caused by skin-on-skin contact during sexual intercourse.

Many people who have no symptoms still have the virus and can pass it on. Even when there are no visible warts, you can still pass genital warts on to another person.

If you have genital warts, your sexual partner should be tested to make sure they have not got them as well.

Genital warts can be caught from:

• Skin-on-skin contact, including vaginal and anal sex
• Oral sex, in rare cases
• Sharing sex toys
• In rare cases, it can be passed from a mother to her baby during birth

You cannot catch genital warts from kissing or sharing things like cutlery, cups or toilet seats

Tests for genital warts

In most cases, a doctor can diagnose warts just by their appearance, although in some cases they may need to perform a biopsy.

Women may have a Pap test, which is where a doctor uses an instrument called a speculum to hold open the vagina and inspect the passage between your vagina and the cervix. They will use a long-handled tool to collect a small cell sample from the cervix, which will be examined for abnormalities under a microscope.

HPV tests are another form of diagnosis for genital warts. Only a small number of genital HPV types are linked to cervical cancer, but the cervical cells taken during a Pap test can also test for strains of the virus that may cause cancer.

Your doctor will normally only carry this out if you are aged 30 or above.

How are genital warts treated?

If your warts do not cause you any discomfort, you may not require treatment. However, if you are bothered by them, there are various genital wart treatments available to buy on prescription.

You can buy various medicines to aid in the treatment of genital warts and the human papillomavirus (HPV) from Medicine Direct. After an online consultation with a certified doctor, who will review your symptoms and medical history and prescribe the most suitable genital warts treatment for you, you can purchase this treatment from our online pharmacy. Order by 2pm and we can offer you free next day delivery.

About Aldara

Aldara is the brand name for imiquimod, which is a cream that is commonly used to treat genital warts. It boosts your immune system's ability to combat the problem.

You should avoid sexual contact while using this treatment as it can irritate your partner's skin. It may also weaken condoms and diaphragms.

Side effects may include blisters, rashes, fatigue, skin redness or body aches and pains.

About Condyline

Condyline is also a topical solution that prevents warts from growing and dividing. It is one of the most common treatments for genital warts and is suitable to be used by both men and women.

You should start to notice results after the first three days of treatment.

About Warticon

Warticon is a topical treatment for genital warts that is available to purchase as a cream or a solution. It contains the active ingredient podophyllotoxin, which is an antiviral plant extract that attacks HPV, killing the warts. This allows healthy tissue to grow and replace the warts after a few weeks.

All three of these treatments are available to order from Medicine Direct following an online consultation with a certified doctor, who will prescribe the most suitable form of medication to treat your specific case.