Genital Warts
Genital Warts
Get Rid of Warts for Good
They're not a pretty sight, these little red bumps, some of them growing in cauliflower-like clusters. Not that you can easily see them, since they're in the area of your vagina or anus. But you sure can feel them--you're probably literally itching to be rid of them. They might even be extremely painful.
Genital warts, also called venereal warts or condyloma, are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), of which there are more than 50 known types. These troublemakers are contagious, a form of sexually transmitted disease (STD) passed from one person to another primarily during sexual or otherwise intimate physical contact. Once contracted, the virus is pretty much your constant companion. Even after warts are removed by your doctor, the virus often remains beneath the surface, ready to reemerge. Worse yet, genital warts are not mere irritants or an interpersonal embarrassment. Some varieties of HPV appear to be linked to cancers of the cervix.
DO'S AND DON'TS
Resist the urge to use any over-the-counter wart removal products, all of which are formulated for nongenital warts. "Some of these products can severely burn and irritate you," warns Kimberly A. Workowski, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University in Atlanta. Other less caustic products aren't strong enough to do the job. Instead, see your doctor: She'll either elect to remove your warts with medication, freeze them with liquid nitrogen or remove them surgically.
Assuming that you've been diagnosed with genital warts, here's what women doctors say that you can and should do to relieve symptoms and hasten healing.
Wash off wart removers. Prescription wart removers containing powerful substances like podophyllin, applied only by your doctor, and podofilox, are applied by your doctor or by yourself at home under your doctor's supervision, often several times over the course of two to four weeks. They cause warts to gradually shrivel up and fall off. So powerful are these medications, however, that they can also burn and cause severe irritation to neighboring tissues, says Dr. Workowski. To protect your sensitive skin, she advises washing off these medications within four to six hours after each application. Dabbing the area repeatedly with a warm, wet washcloth should do it. Better yet, take a warm, relaxing bath.
When To See A Doctor
If you or your sexual partner show signs of genital warts, see a doctor. It may take from 8 to 18 months after infection for warts to become apparent, so if your partner has them and you don't notice any, you may still have the virus. Genital warts should be promptly removed, says Kimberly A. Workowski, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University in Atlanta. If your sexual partner has genital warts, he too should see a physician and have them removed. If you prefer to consult a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (or infections), try your gynecologist, the county or city health department Sexually Transmitted Disease clinic or Planned Parenthood Clinic. Call
1-800-230-PLAN for the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you.
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Keep the area clean and dry. In the event that your doctor opts to use liquid nitrogen or laser surgery, you should expect that there will be some local skin or mucous membrane irritation, says Judith O'Donnell, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in Philadelphia and a medical specialist for the Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Program at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. "Immediately after the procedure, keep the area clean and dry so the skin heals," she says. Take a daily bath or shower and wash with a gentle soap. Then gently and thoroughly pat yourself dry with a soft towel.
Soak in an oat bath. "Taking an oatmeal bath can be extremely soothing for genital itchiness that may occur from warts," says Dr. Workowski. She recommends Aveeno bath treatment, available at drugstores. The product contains a finely powdered oatmeal called colloidal oatmeal, which is a good antidote to itching and won't clog your bathtub drain.
