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How Do I Know If I Have Them?

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 during your regular gynecological exams. An annual 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 cells; and this can help diagnose condyloma.

What Are the Treatments?

Untreated warts may resolve on their own, stay the same or enlarge. There is currently no cure or vaccine for genital warts. Treatment focuses on removing visible warts. However, even after visible warts are removed, the virus remains in your body and may cause outbreaks again in the future.

lso, 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 podophyllin trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and podofilox (Condylox) which kills the wart tissue or imiquimod (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.

Prevention

The best way to prevent genital warts is to use condoms. 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 if the warts prove to be sexually transmitted, get tested yourself — even if you have no symptoms. Vaccines to prevent and treat HPV infection may be on the horizon. These are currently being tested in humans for safety and effectiveness and may be available in the future.