How to Remove Genital Warts
Of more than 100 types of human papilloma virus (HPV), about 30 directly affect the genitals. HPV can produce warts that range from smooth, small bumps to larger cauliflower-like lumps. Because genital warts are caused by a virus, it is difficult to prevent them from recurring. They can be removed, however, through various means.
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Instructions
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Freeze them off. One wart-removal technique is called cryocautery, which is literally freezing the off with liquid nitrogen. This can be an unpleasant treatment for warts on the genitalia, but it is effective in cases of persistent wart growth. It can be performed in stages every one to three weeks until the warts are more under control.
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Use electricity and/or lasers. Harder to treat genital warts can be burned off, with lasers or electric current. These techniques literally cauterize the blood vessels feeding the wart, which causes it to fall and die off. The process can be expensive and quite painful, so local anesthetic is usually desirable.
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Apply topical treatments. In more minor cases, a topical application of podphyllin resin can be painted on a wart by a nurse or doctor. After several applications, this technique is sometimes effective at stopping cell growth in the wart, and can prevent a larger outbreak. Trichloracetic Acid (TCA) can also be applied by a medical professional to dissolve small warts.
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Cut it out. Genital warts can be surgically excised, which essentially means they are cut off. This does not simply mean the outer surface of the wart is removed. It must be taken out at the root. A technique known as the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) involves the insertion of a looped surgical instrument beneath the wart to cut it off entirely.
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Tips & Warnings
Some strains of HPV are associated with cervical cancer, but these don't generally produce warts. It's still a good idea to get a Pap smear if diagnosed with vaginal warts or HPV. Always consult a medical professional in the treatment and diagnosis of genital warts.
OTC wart treatments should not be applied to genital warts because they can cause serious skin irritation. Even without the presence of visible warts, genital warts and HPV can be spread through sexual contact. Always use protection and notify your partner. Gardasil, though approved for use as a vaccine against HPV, has also been implicated in several severe adverse reactions, some of which have resulted in death. The safest protections against HPV and genital warts are abstinence and condoms.
