How To Get Rid Of Genital Warts In South Africa
What are Genital Warts?
A small bump on the genitals caused by a common sexually transmitted infection. Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
How To Get Rid Of Genital Warts In South Africa
1. Cream or liquid:
You can usually apply this to the warts yourself a few times a week for several weeks, but in some cases you may need to go to a sexual health clinic where a doctor or nurse will apply it. These treatments can cause pain, irritation or a burning sensation.
- Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara). This cream appears to boost your immune system’s ability to fight genital warts. Avoid sexual contact while the cream is on your skin. It might weaken condoms and diaphragms and irritate your partner’s skin.One possible side effect is skin redness. Other side effects might include blisters, body aches or pain, a cough, rashes, and fatigue.
- Podophyllin and podofilox (Condylox). Podophyllin is a plant-based resin that destroys genital wart tissue. Your doctor applies this solution. Podofilox contains the same active compound, but you can apply it at home.Never apply podofilox internally. Additionally, this medication isn’t recommended for use during pregnancy. Side effects can include mild skin irritation, sores or pain.
- Trichloroacetic acid. This chemical treatment burns off genital warts, and can be used for internal warts. Side effects can include mild skin irritation, sores or pain.
- Sinecatechins (Veregen). This cream is used for treatment of external genital warts and warts in or around the anal canal. Side effects, such as reddening of the skin, itching or burning, and pain, are often mild.
Don’t try to treat genital warts with over-the-counter wart removers. These medications aren’t intended for use in the genital area.
2. Surgery:
A doctor or nurse may cut, burn or use a laser to remove the warts. This can cause pain, irritation or scarring.
You might need surgery to remove larger warts, warts that don’t respond to medications or, if you’re pregnant, warts that your baby can be exposed to during delivery. Surgical options include:
- Freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy). Freezing works by causing a blister to form around your wart. As your skin heals, the lesions slough off, allowing new skin to appear. You might need to repeat the treatment. The main side effects include pain and swelling.
- Electrocautery. This procedure uses an electrical current to burn off warts. You might have some pain and swelling after the procedure.
- Surgical excision. Your doctor might use special tools to cut off warts. You’ll need local or general anesthesia for this treatment, and you might have pain afterward.
- Laser treatments. This approach, which uses an intense beam of light, can be expensive and is usually reserved for extensive and tough-to-treat warts. Side effects can include scarring and pain.
What can I do after treatment to make sure I don’t get anymore warts?
Genital warts can be treated, but they can’t be cured. You’re removing the warts, but you’ll still have the HPV that causes them. The HPV may go away at some point on its own, but there’s no way to know for sure. Some people will get warts again and others won’t.
After you get your warts removed:
- Keep the area clean and don’t scratch it.
- Wash your hands after touching the area where the warts were.
- Don’t have sex if it’s uncomfortable.
- A cold pack may make you feel better if the area hurts or is swollen. You can also take over-the-counter pain medicine to help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
What is the fastest way to get rid of genital warts?
If you’ve developed genital warts, your doctor has a few options for treatment. The fastest way to remove them is through surgery or to freeze them off with liquid nitrogen. Some doctors might use an electric current or laser treatment to burn off the warts.
Do genital warts ever go away?
Genital warts can disappear without treatment. Although this will usually happen within 2 years, it can take longer. People can eliminate genital warts much faster with treatment, and treated warts are less likely to return quickly. For a person using cream, it may take as little as a few months for warts to disappear.
How Long Do genital warts Last?
A genital wart varies amongst patients. Genital warts may go away on their own or with treatment. They can last from a few months to years (with or without treatment), most of them take 2 years to clear up. Approximately, 30% of all warts will subside within the first 4 months of infection.
How do you get rid of a wart on your private part?
Treatments can remove genital warts, but they may return. There is no cure for the infection that causes them, but the body may clear the infection over time. Creams and lotions can eliminate the warts over time, and there are various procedures to remove them. Genital wart outbreaks usually resolve without treatment.
What happens if genital warts is left untreated?
But even if your genital warts disappear without treatment, you may still have the virus. When left untreated, genital warts can grow very large and in big clusters. They are also more likely to return.
Can you cut off a genital wart yourself?
Genital warts must be treated by your doctor. Do not try to treat the warts yourself. The warts can be removed, but the viral infection itself can’t be cured. The virus lives inside your skin.
What are 3 symptoms of genital warts?
Genital warts look like skin-colored or whitish bumps that show up on your vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, or anus. They kind of look like little pieces of cauliflower. You can have just one wart or a bunch of them, and they can be big or small. They might be itchy, but most of the time they don’t hurt.
Should I be worried about genital warts?
Genital warts left untreated may spread to other areas and increase in size and number. In most cases genital warts do not go away on their own and should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as they appear.
Is touching a genital wart contagious?
You can’t get genital warts by touching yourself or someone else with a hand or foot that has warts. Genital warts spread through: Intercourse, including anal, vaginal-penile and vaginal-vaginal. Genital touching (skin-to-skin contact without ejaculation).
What makes genital warts worse?
What makes genital warts worse? If you already have genital warts, shaving and waxing your pubic hair can lead to more widespread infection. That’s because these hair removal techniques can cause tiny cuts and abrasions or irritation of the skin, which can allow the virus to enter and infect a larger area of skin.
What’s the longest a wart can last?
Most warts will persist for one to two years if they are left untreated. Eventually, the body will recognize the virus and fight it off, causing the wart to disappear. While they remain, however, warts can spread very easily when people pick at them or when they are on the hands, feet or face.
How long does apple cider vinegar take to remove genital warts?
The wart might fall off within 1 to 2 weeks. Continuing to use apple cider vinegar for a few days after this may prevent the skin cells that caused the previous wart from shedding and growing elsewhere.
How can a man tell if he has HPV?
While men can be infected with HPV, there are no approved tests available for men. However, your doctor may do an anal pap test if have had anal sex. Your doctor will be able to diagnose low-risk HPV and cutaneous HPV through a physical or visual exam.
What does genital warts look like?
What Do Genital Warts Look Like? Genital warts look like small flesh-colored, pink or red growths in or around the sex organs. The warts may look similar to the small parts of a cauliflower, or they may be very tiny and hard to see. They often appear in clusters of three or four, and may grow and spread rapidly.