Genital Warts Diagnosis and Treatment
People often feel embarrassed about growths in their genital area and often do not seek treatment from a doctor. At Tareen Dermatology we can put patients at ease by offering proper diagnosis and treatment.
Condyloma is the medical term for genital warts. Genital warts are soft, noncancerous growths that can form on the skin on the outside or inside of the vagina or anus, inside the cervix, or on the penis. In some cases, they can also be found on the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat. Genital warts are caused by a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV) and are sexually transmitted. HPV has been associated with cancers for both men and women. It is imperative that all female patients get an annual pap smear. About 80% of adults have been infected with HPV.
The signs and symptoms of genital warts include:
- Bleeding with intercourse
- Cauliflower-like shape caused by several warts close together
- Itching or discomfort in your genital area
- Small, flesh-colored, brown, or pink swellings in the genital area
Dermatologists can diagnose genital warts by examining the warts during a medical office visit. In some cases, a sample or biopsy of the wart is taken and sent to our pathology lab for official diagnosis. This ultimately confirms that a patient has genital warts.
There is no one cure for genital warts. Removing warts can lower the risk of spreading the virus, relieve pain and itching, reassure patients the growths are genital warts and not cancer, and help patients keep the area clean.
There are a few procedures and methods that a dermatologist may perform during an office visit:
- Cryosurgery (freezing off the warts with liquid nitrogen)
- Excision (cut out the warts)
- Electrocautery (destroy the warts with electric current)
- Laser Treatment (destroy the warts with laser light)
- Medicated creams and solutions – these can burn or break down the wart tissue
If you want to treat your genital warts, it is best to see a dermatologist. Please call our office 651.633.6883 or email [email protected] to schedule a visit with one of our board-certified providers.