Understanding Genital Warts - Diagnosis & Treatment

How Are Genital Herpes Diagnosed?

Usually genital warts are diagnosed by an exam. Your doctor may want to take a biopsy (a small sample of tissue) to determine for sure whether the lesion is a genital wart. Tests to determine the subtype of the HPV are sometimes recommended since some are low risk for cervical cancer and others are labeled as high risk. If you are a woman and are diagnosed with warts, make sure to be tested for cervical irregularities by a pelvic exam. A regular Pap test is very important. You may also need an exam with a colposcope, a device used to microscopically inspect the vaginal walls and cervix for abnormal areas.

What Are the Treatments for Genital Warts?

Untreated warts may resolve on their own, stay the same, or enlarge. Treatment focuses on removing visible warts. However, even after visible warts are removed, the virus may cause outbreaks again in the future. Also, treatments may or may not decrease your risk of passing genital warts to someone else.

Because treatment doesn't actually change the course of the infection, it's not necessarily required. To decide whether you want to have warts removed, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits in your individual situation.

IMPORTANT! If you are pregnant or planning to have a baby, you should talk with your doctor about getting treatment to avoid HPV-related complications and to avoid passing HPV to your baby. Also, make sure your doctor knows that you are pregnant before he or she prescribes medication for your warts; some medications for warts may cause birth defects.

Don't attempt to get rid of genital warts with over-the-counter remedies. The genital area is too sensitive for these products and you could damage your skin. Instead, see your doctor, who may prescribe a medicine for you to apply to the warts or may administer one of a number of treatments himself or herself. Medicines that can be applied include podophyllum, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and Condylox, which kill the wart tissue, or Aldara, a cream that stimulates your immune system to fight the virus. Other options include freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen, cauterizing them with heat or a laser, or removing them surgically. Whatever method you and your doctor choose, you will probably need several treatments.

How to Prevent Genital Warts

The best way to prevent genital warts is abstinence. Condoms can help lower risk of HPV infection, but they can't fully protect against HPV since there may still be skin to skin contact with an infected area. Condoms are still important in protecting against other sexually transmitted infections. Unfortunately, since many people do not have symptoms, they are unaware they are spreading the virus. If your partner discovers a wart, insist that he or she see a doctor, and get checked yourself -- even if you have no symptoms. 

A vaccine, called Gardasil, was approved by the FDA in 2006 to help reduce the risk of cervical cancer and genital warts by immunizing young women aged 11-26 against certain strains of HPV which cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital wart cases. Ideally, the vaccine should be given prior to becoming sexually active. The vaccine is given in a three-shot series over six months.