All warts are caused by the human papilloma virus whether you have them on your fiingers or on your genitals. There are a number of different strains of this infectious virus which can be contagious and is easily spread during unprotected sex. For this reason, genital warts are considered to be an STD

There are a number of ways to treat genital warts and it is impoertant that you look at all of the options. Please keep in mind though that none of these genital wart treatments will "cure" the problem as there is no cure for HPV. All treatments revolve around managing the symptoms caused by the virus.

General Information About Genital Wart Treatments

The primary focus of genital wart treatments is to remove any warts that are visible in order to stop any symptoms that might be bothering you such as burning sensations, itching or occasional bleeding. Having these warts removed can help to reduce the risk of your sexual partned being infected with the HPV virus. You should still practice safe sex!

Your doctor will have to assess the size, location and the number of genital warts that you have in order to ensure that the right genital wart treatment is offered. He or she will also give you some indication of what each type of treatment will cost, any side effects that might be associated with it and also whether you insurance is likely to cove the cost. Genital wart treatments can often be carried out in the doctors office, some can be applied at home, while others may require a visit to a hospital.

Primary Genital Wart Treatments to Consider

Most doctors will want to start treatment by using a topical cream or chemical gel, that is if they are not too prolific or spread about your genitla area. Some topical genital wart treatments can be applied at home while others have to be applied either by a doctor or a practioner nurse. The main two topical agents are Podofilox and Imiquiod, these can be self-applied to external warts only

Some warts located in particularly sensitive areas like inside the rectum, urethra and cervix require alternate therapies. In these particular cases, genital wart treatments may include cryotherapy, surgical excision and electrocautery. Cryotherapy involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze off the warts while electrocautery is the use of electricity to burn the warts off. Surgical excision requires a more formal clinical setting as it involves the cutting off of the warts.

A one size fits all approach to Genital wart treatments is not right because everyone's body and tolerance for pain is different. Discuss with your doctor all of the available options and make the decision together on the best way to get rid of those troublesome warts. Genital wart treatments are only a temporary solution, the HPV virus cannot be cured therefore there is a good chance that another outbreak will occur in the future.