Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by the human pappilomavirus. They can affect both men and women during unprotected sexual contact. They appear in the genital area as grey flesh colored raised bumps which can occur in clusters. Women may develop warts in the mouth or throat if they have had oral sex with an infected partner. In many cases, genital warts will disappear without treatment. When genital warts begin to cause pain and discomfort and do not subside on their own there are other available treatments.
Medications
Physicians may treat female genital warts with various medications. Imiquimod is a topical cream that patients can apply directly to the affected area at home. It proves important for patients to avoid sexual contact while using this medication, as it may cause skin irritation and weaken barrier birth control methods, which can lead to pregnancy. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a chemical treatment administered by a physician that burns off genital warts, reports Mayo Clinic.
Cryotherapy and Electrocautery
Cryotherapy may be used for the treatment of genital warts. This procedure involves freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen. According to Mayo Clinic, freezing works by causing a blister to form around your wart causing the lesions to slough off which allows new skin to appear. Some women may need several treatments of cryotherapy to achieve the desired results. Electrocautery uses an electrical current to burn off genital warts. Physicians perform both cryotherapy and electrocautery in either an office or hospital setting.
Surgery and Laser Treatments
Women with severe genital warts that do not respond to medication or cryotherapy and electrocautery treatments may require surgery. Surgeons perform surgery in a hospital setting under local anesthesia. During local anesthesia a patient remains awake while the surgeon manually removes the warts. Surgical laser treatments may also be used to treat genital warts that have not responded to other treatments. According to Mayo Clinic, laser treatment, which uses an intense beam of light, can be expensive and is usually reserved for very extensive and tough-to-treat warts.
