Learn About Various Cures for Genital Warts with Pictures

Different cures for genital warts that require doctor visits are listed below with relevant pictures. A detailed account on different cures for genital warts is provided using easy-to-understand language.

Surgical Cure for Genital Warts

Surgical options are often used when genital warts have grown large or will not respond to other cures.
 

Electrosurgery or Electrocautery

Electrosurgery, or electrocautery, is a treatment used to cure genital warts. The process involves the removal of genital warts by an experienced doctor who essentially cuts the warts out of the skin. After giving the appropriate anesthetic, an electrified or heated needle, blade, or wire is used to remove the genital wart growth. This treatment of genital warts cure is most successful when the warts are smaller in size and number.

The most successful genital wart treatment reported by our site visitors

The major drawback of this genital warts cure is pain as well as the high risk of scarring or disfigurement in the treated area. The procedure also produces smoke which is considered potentially infectious.

Another similar surgical treatment for genital warts is scissor excision, which also removes warts using local anesthetic. The results and cost of this treatment option for genital warts are somewhat similar to electrosurgery or electrocautery.

Genital Warts Cure with Laser Therapy

Cure for genital warts with laser therapy uses a stream of high intensity laser light directed to the warts site to accurately destroy the HPV lesions (genital warts). This requires local, regional or general anesthesia.

Laser treatment is effective when used on genital warts which are more extensive and when warts are located in places that are difficult to reach, such as warts in the cervix, with any other treatment.

Treatment for genital warts with laser therapy causes less adjacent tissue injury than electrosurgery or electrocautery. Drawbacks of laser therapy treatment include the cost, a longer healing time, scarring, limited availability, required hospital stays, and possible infection.

Cryosurgery or Cryotherapy

Cryosurgery or Cryotherapy is a completely different line of treatment used to cure genital warts. This treatment is applicable for warts on the external genitals as well as on the warts on internal genitals, such as the vaginal walls and the cervix. Cryotherapy is a safe treatment which can even be undertaken during pregnancy.

The affected tissue (genital wart) is frozen by applying liquid nitrogen, a very cold gas. The liquid nitrogen is applied with a cryoprobe directly onto the genital warts. This results in frozen wart tissue and the formation of a blister, which eventually falls off.

It often takes several visits before all the warts are cleared. Since the patient is not able to see the genital warts inside the vagina (vaginal warts), it is necessary to continue treatment until the health care provider confirms that they are gone.

Some drawbacks with this genital warts cure are cost, number of doctor visits, pain and possible scarring.

Non-Surgical Cure for Genital Warts

Alpha interferon

Alpha interferon is a genital warts cure often used if the patient has numerous eruptions. This treatment for genital warts may be used as a standalone treatment or given simultaneously with other treatment options.

Alpha interferon is an antiviral drug that is directly injected into the genital warts. The drug attacks the HPV virus, the root cause of genital warts. This results in the gradual disappearance of the genital warts. The treatment is given three times per week for approximately three weeks.

Alpha interferon treatment is not widely used because it is expensive and does not guarantee a cure. It also has some troubling short-term side effects, including headaches, flu-like symptoms, anorexia, fatigue, low-grade fever, etc. Alpha interferon treatment is not given to expectant mothers.

Bleomycin

Bleomycin is used to treat various types of cancers, including that of the cervix, uterus, head, neck, testicles and penis.

Bleomycin is an antibiotic used in injection as a genital warts cure. Bleomycin can treat severe cases of warts when any other cure for genital warts has not worked. It is diluted and injected into the tissue below the wart. This slowly, but gradually, destroys the wart.

Bleomycin can interfere with the fetus if taken during pregnancy. Therefore, this genital warts removal treatment should not be used during pregnancy or breast feeding.

Common side effects include burning or pain at the place of injection as well as itching, skin rash, and pain or coldness at the spot of the bleomycin injection.

Chemical Medications for Genital Warts Cure

Podophyllin

Podophyllin is another genital warts cure option used worldwide. Podophyllin has been in use as a treatment for genital warts for more than 50 years and has been used as a home remedy for genital warts. It is a resin mixture obtained from a crude plant (May apple or Mandrake).

This genital warts cure is generally available in the form of a gel or cream. It is a highly toxic extract that is applied as a thin coat on the affected area by a doctor over one to two weeks to kill the warts. It prevents the genital warts from dividing and growing larger.

The area that receives the podophyllin treatment should be washed thoroughly after 16 hours of application or as directed by the doctor to reduce its adverse side effects.

During this treatment, the healthy skin surface around the genital warts can be covered with a thin layer of vasoline, skin cream, or ointment before applying podophyllin to reduce any side effects.

Because of its potential side effects, including pain, application on small warts is best. Podophyllin should not be used for perianal warts and vaginal warts.

Podophyllin should never be used during pregnancy and breast feeding because its potential toxicity may result in birth defects.

Liquid Acid Genital Warts Cures

Bichloroacetic Acid (BCA) or Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA)

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and Bichloroacetic acid (BCA) are used in treatment for genital warts. These acids are effective in the moist genital area.

Both the harmful and harmless protein cells in the skin with warts are destroyed from the application of trichloracetic acid or bichloroacetic acid, thereby disintegrating the warts.

This cure for genital warts is not advised in cases of extensive eruptions. Treatment with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and bichloroacetic acid (BCA) may cause scarring and pain. If the acid makes contact with normal, healthy skin, serious skin burns may result. Therefore, TCA and BCA should only be applied by a doctor. However, this cure for genital warts can be used safely on pregnant women with no risk.