Genital wart treatment
If you have contracted a strain of HPV that has led to genital warts, the first thing you should do is count yourself amongst the lucky ones.
That sounds totally crazy, but think about it: The strains of HPV which lead to genital warts do not lead to cancer. The HPV strains which lead to cervical cancer, in fact, almost never show any visible symptoms of infection, and can usually only be detected by a pap smear.
So count your blessings, and then talk to your doctor about treating genital warts, because, sure, you don’t have cancer, but the sooner you can get rid of genital warts, the better.
Now, keep in mind, there is no real quick and easy cure for HPV. All we have is ways to treat the symptoms. Being a virus, HPV cannot simply be killed off by medicine.
When it comes to the treatment of genital warts, you have a number of options, thankfully. Your doctor may recommend or prescribe one, or you may be given a choice.
Bear in mind that treatment is not to ‘get rid of’ an HPV infection, but rather, to induce wart-free periods. The actual infection is still there, and you may experience further breakouts in the future, but the symptoms are gone.
Luckily, it’s not uncommon for an HPV infection to become dormant after awhile. Still, don’t expect your genital warts to disappear forever upon treatment.
Wait it Out
Maybe not the most preferable course of action, but 90% of the time, genital warts will clear up on their own before too long. However, they can also increase in size and number, if left untreated. If your infection isn’t too serious or uncomfortable, this may actually be the best option.
Cryotherapy or Acid Therapy
Cryotherapy and Acid Therapy are treatment methods wherein small doses of chemicals are applied to the warts to literally burn them right off. This isn’t as painful as it sounds! Any spilled chemical can be prevented from doing any damage by talc or baking soda. It isn’t like your genital warts literally catch fire using this method, either; Chemical treatment usually involves a weekly treatment regiment.
Surgical Removal
You may cringe just thinking about it, but there are a number of options for your doctor to manually remove the warts. This can include electrosurgery, scissor excision, laser surgery, or the trusty scalpel.
Dietary Treatment
Not as quick and convenient as surgical or chemical removal of warts, but by eating properly and getting some exercise, you can strengthen your immune system and quicken the process of your body getting rid of your infection naturally, without having to resort to chemicals or surgery. And of course, a strong immune system can help to prevent further breakouts after the initial treatment.
But of course, the most important weapon against HPV is prevention.
Don’t have sex without protection or an STD test. It’s not just genital warts you have to look out for, it’s HPV strains that can lead to cancer, it’s HIV, syphilis, genital herpes, and all sorts of unpleasant diseases. Practice safe sex, or you’ll be playing Russian roulette every single time you meet a new sex partner.
Sam McGee says:
I’ve read about the successful use of Catechins for the treatment of genital warts / hpv. Catechin is a substance extracted from green tea. I found a product in the net called Oxyfend – zerowarts and the site has a couple of articles and medical references on catechins. I’ve been using the product and it is working. It would pay to have a look into it.
Sam
May 16th, 2009 at 4:14 am