Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
There is no cure for genital warts. The goal of treatment is to remove visible warts and decrease the risk of spreading the virus. There are many different treatments that your doctor may recommend, none of which are 100% effective. Most treatment types will get rid of the warts in 60–90% of cases, however.
Some treatments are applied by the patient. These include the following:
- Imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara®) – This medication works by boosting your immune system to kill the virus. It can be used for up to 16 weeks and is more effective in women than men. Imiquimod may weaken condoms, and you should avoid sexual activity while the cream is on your skin.
- Podofilox 0.5% gel or solution (Condylox®) – This should not be used during pregnancy.
Treatments applied by a physician:
- Podophyllin resin, 15–25% solution – This should not be used during pregnancy.
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Cryotherapy – Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the warts.
- Surgical removal – This may need to be performed by a specialist with local anesthesia; usually for large amounts of warts.
- Laser treatment – Carbon dioxide laser treatment is useful for a large amount of urethral or vaginal warts.
Most of these treatments require multiple applications. If there is no improvement after 3 treatment cycles or if the warts are not gone after 6 treatment cycles, your doctor will usually switch you to a different medication. Common side effects of all treatments include skin irritation and redness. Some people may also develop scars at the site of the warts.
In 2006, the FDA approved the first HPV vaccine (Gardasil). It protects against the high risk strains, 16 and 18, that can cause cervical cancer and the low risk strains, 6 and 11, that cause most genital warts. The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 shots over a 6-month period and is approved for use in girls and women ages 9–26. The vaccine is most effective when given before a girl becomes sexually active, but it can be given after sexual activity has begun.
Self-Care Guidelines
