Genital Warts: Common Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & More

Complications of Genital Warts

Genital warts may produce no symptoms in many individuals. However, overlooking genital wart symptoms or avoiding treatment might result in the following complications:

• Cancer: High-risk HPV strains can induce the development of cancer at sites of infection over time if the treatment of genital warts is not timely or complete. Genital warts in women can lead to cervical cancer, as well as cancers of the vulva, vagina, or anus. In men, prostate cancers are more common and involve the penis, scrotum, or anus.
• Difficulty during pregnancy: Genital warts can become enlarged to the extent that they cause pain during urination and labor by restricting passages and limiting the vagina’s ability to stretch. Excessive stress on warts in the vagina or vulva during the birthing process can cause bleeding from genital warts.
• Transmission of infection to child during labor: Rarely, the baby might come into contact with the genital warts while passing through the vagina, and might develop warts themselves. These warts can be present in the baby’s throat, and require surgical resection to prevent difficulty in breathing.

Diagnosis of Genital Warts

Genital warts can be easy to spot. If you suspect that you may be infected with HPV, you can schedule an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist for an examination to confirm the diagnosis. If genital wart symptoms are not obvious on inspection of the external genitalia, the following tests may be used:

• Vinegar solution test: Genital warts caused by HPV turn white when they come into contact with vinegar. This test helps your doctor confirm the diagnosis in case of warts that might not be prominent otherwise.
• Pap smear test: This test is performed for genital warts in women. A sample swab is taken from the inside of the cervix or vagina, which is then observed for abnormalities that could lead to cancer.
• HPV DNA test: The analysis of samples from the skin can help identify the strain of HPV responsible for genital warts. This information is important since high-risk HPV can cause cancer.

Treatment of Genital Warts

In many cases, genital warts can clear up without treatment, or the symptoms of genital warts may not be troublesome. However, treatment of genital warts can protect you from later complications, and your partner from infection, while adding to your confidence at the same time. Mainstream medication or creams for warts are usually unsuitable for use in the genital area since your skin is much more sensitive in this region. Your doctor can prescribe specific topical ointments for genital wart treatment. If genital wart treatment with topical application of medication shows inadequate response, or is not an option as in the case of pregnant women, surgery to remove genital warts is preferred:

• Surgical excision: This involves manual dissection of the genital warts using a blade by the doctor.
• Electrocautery: Electric current is used to remove the genital wart.
• Freezing with liquid nitrogen: Also known as ‘cryotherapy’, this procedure involves freezing the genital wart. The skin then peels off and is replaced with fresh, normal skin. This is considered to be one of the best and safe treatment options.
• Laser removal: This genital wart treatment is usually reserved for lesions that might be difficult to remove otherwise.

Prevention of Genital Warts

The high prevalence of HPV among men and women puts all sexually active individuals at risk of developing genital warts. Hence, it is important to take precautionary measures to avoid the inconvenience that results from genital warts:

• Get vaccinated for HPV
• Use a condom when engaging in sexual activity of any kind
• Be vigilant of genital wart symptoms
• Avoid having multiple sexual partners

For more information on common causes, symptoms, remedies, and treatments of genital warts, get in touch with us.