What are genital warts?
Genital warts are small growths that develop around the genitals or anus. They are also known as venereal warts or condylomata acuminate.
Warts form separately or in clusters. They may be small, at 5 millimeters or less, though they develop into large masses. The warts are usually small, infected cyst to rupture and drain on its own.
Surgical drainage. You may need surgery to drain a cyst that’s infected or very large. Drainage of a cyst can be using local anesthesia or sedation.
For the procedure, your doctor makes a small incision in the cyst, allows it to drain, and then places a small rubber tube (catheter) in the incision. The catheter stays in place for up to six weeks to keep the incision open and allow complete drainage.
Antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if your cyst is infected or if testing reveals that you have a sexually transmitted infection. But if the abscess drain properly, you may not need antibiotics.
Marsupialization. If cysts recur or bother you, a marsupialization (mahr-soo-pee-ul-ZAY-shun) procedure may help. Your doctor places stitches on each side of a drainage incision to create a permanent opening less than 1/4-inch (about 6-millimeter) long. An inserted catheter may promote drainage for a few days after the procedure and help prevent the recurrence.
Rarely, for persistent cysts that aren’t effectively treated by the above procedures, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the Bartholin’s gland. Surgical removal usually does in a hospital under general anesthesia. Surgical removal of the gland carries a Genital wart are fleshy growths that develop around the genitals or anus. They result from one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Genital warts are caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
There is no cure for this infection, but there are various ways of removing warts. Most methods require a person to see a healthcare provider.
In males, this includes the penis, scrotum, and anus.
In females, this includes the vulva, the internal surface of the vagina, the cervix, and the anus.
Genital warts are not usually painful, but they can cause itching, redness, or discomfort, and they may bleed.
HPV infection does not always cause symptoms — some people have a disease without developing warts. For this reason, it may be impossible to tell whether a person has HPV.
Treatment
Treatments can remove genital warts, but they may return.
There is no cure for the infection that causes them, but the body may clear it over time.
Creams and lotions can eliminate warts over time, and there are various procedures to remove them.
Genital wart outbreaks usually resolve without treatment. However, in some cases, warts grow or multiply without intervention. Also, treating outbreaks of these warts can significantly reduce the risk of transmission.
People should not apply treatments designed to eliminate warts on the hands or feet to their genitals.
Treatments for genital warts include:
- Topical medication: A person applies cream or liquid directly to warts for several days each week for several weeks.
- Cryotherapy: A healthcare professional applies the liquid nitrogen to the area, causing blisters to form around warts, which eventually fall off — sometimes after several sessions.
- Electrocautery: After administering a local anesthetic, a healthcare professional uses an electric current to remove the wart.
- Laser treatment: A healthcare professional removes warts with an intensive beam of light.
- Surgery: The person receives a local anesthetic before a surgeon removes warts.
The treatments are not painful but may cause soreness or irritation for a few days, and over-the-counter pain relief medications can help.
It may take weeks or months for the treatments to work. For some people, the treatments do not work. Others may find that warts return.
Also, a healthcare provider may use more than one treatment at a time.
They may warn against using soaps, creams, or lotions that may irritate the skin.
Prevention
Sexually active people can reduce the risk of developing genital warts in several ways.
Using barrier protection, such as condoms, reduces but does not eliminate the risk.
Getting the HPV vaccine can prevent a person from contracting certain types of the virus, including those that can cause genital warts or cancer. Officials have approved this vaccine for use in people up to the age of 45.
A person can transmit HPV without knowing that they have it — without genital warts.
Having regular STI screenings is vital, especially before contact with a new partner.