There are a variety of treatment options for genital warts (condyloma acuminata), a skin condition caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Visible genital warts can go away on their own within a few months if the body successfully fights off HPV. They can also linger unchanged on the skin or grow in size or number. In those who are not immunocompromised, almost 90% of HPV infections are cleared within two years of the infection.
If you have genital warts that cause discomfort — or you want the unsightly blemishes gone — you may need to seek treatment from a sexual health clinic or dermatologist. They may recommend topical medications or surgical procedures as part of your treatment plan.
Treatments for genital warts can temporarily help make the bumps go away, but they don’t treat the underlying HPV infection. Because of this, it’s possible that your genital warts may return.
There are several medications available to treat genital warts. Most of them come in a topical form that’s applied directly to the affected area. These prescription creams and ointments are not the same as body wart removal drugs you can buy at a drugstore. You should not use over-the-counter wart removal medications for the treatment of genital warts.
It may take several weeks of use before you notice an improvement with any of the following medications. Talk with a healthcare provider about these treatment options:
Aside from prescription medication, there are surgical and nonsurgical procedures that can remove genital warts. They are performed in a medical office and include the following:
Freezing
Also called cryosurgery or cryotherapy, this minimally invasive procedure involves freezing genital warts with liquid nitrogen, which destroys the tissue. Pain and blisters may develop in the area as the skin heals. It may be necessary to repeat the treatment several times to completely remove the warts.
Surgical Removal
In some cases, genital warts can be cut away with surgical tools. Your doctor will perform an excision after giving you local anesthesia to numb the area, then use stitches so the skin will heal properly. Side effects can include temporary pain and irritation, as well as permanent scarring.
Electrosurgery
Also called electrocautery, this procedure uses an electrical current to burn off warts. Doctors sometimes perform this in combination with surgical removal to destroy large warts. Excision removes the bulk of the wart, and electrocautery burns away the remainder. Swelling and pain are common side effects.
Laser Therapy
Also called laser surgery, this involves burning off warts with high-intensity light beams. Because of the high cost and risk of scarring, this procedure is usually only recommended if other treatment methods aren’t effective.
Once you have genital warts, there are no known lifestyle modifications that can treat them. However, you can make healthy choices to prevent catching or spreading the HPV virus. These include:
Getting the HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, helps reduce your risk of certain strains of HPV that cause genital warts and certain cancers. If you’re unvaccinated and over the age of 27, talk to your doctor to discuss the potential benefits.
Using condoms during sexual contact even if you’ve been vaccinated for HPV, since it doesn’t cover all strains of the virus. And while condoms do lower transmission risk overall, it’s still possible to get genital warts if you use one because the virus may live on skin that’s outside the covered area.
Limiting your number of sexual partners.
Avoiding sexual partners who engage in high-risk sexual activities, including having unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Not smoking cigarettes or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, both of which increase the likelihood of developing genital warts.
Some people may try complementary treatments for body warts, such as tea tree oil, but more research is needed to determine if they are effective for genital warts.
You may help ease discomfort during genital wart treatment with saltwater baths. Add two handfuls of salt to warm water and sit down in the mixture. This can be done twice a day.
Treatment options for genital warts can include topical and oral medications or noninvasive procedures and surgical methods to remove them.
While not all genital warts are bothersome, treatment can alleviate pain and discomfort.
Treatments for genital warts can make the bumps go away, but they don’t treat the underlying HPV infection. Because of this, genital warts may return after they are treated.
