Genital warts

What causes genital warts?

Anal or genital warts are caused by an HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection, as opposed to skin tags, which are primarily caused by skin irritation. The following factors greatly affect how long it takes for warts to appear after infection:

For HPV, the incubation period, or the interval between infection and the onset of the first symptom, can range from three weeks to eight months.
Some persons have a further latency period during which they are symptomless yet have enough virus to spread it to their sexual partner.
The body's immune system can eradicate the virus in 18 to 24 months for about 80% of afflicted individuals.
The genital warts are also removed by this. Some people may not want to wait this long and may seek treatment right away, particularly if the warts are interfering with their sexual life and making their partner uncomfortable.

Structure of a genital or anal wart:

Two crucial components make up the wart tissue:

Epithelial Cells: The normal skin cells that make up the skin's outermost layer are called epithelial cells. However, when the viral particles infect these cells, they become aberrant and multiply, giving rise to the elevated and characteristic appearance of genital or anal warts.
Viral DNA and Protein: Viral DNA and viral proteins are found inside the infected epithelial cells. Certain proteins produced by the viral DNA enable the virus to take over the normal functions of the epithelial cells.

Both men and women are susceptible to genital warts, which can develop on the penis, vulva, vagina, cervix, perineum (the space between the anus and genitals), and anus.

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How can I prevent warts? How can warts be prevented from spreading?

HPV Vaccine: The best defense against the virus is the HPV vaccine. However, this vaccination needs to be administered when the child is just 11 or 12 years old. It is advised to receive this vaccination before the first sexual experience because there is a very high chance that you will have already contracted HPV after that. It is not advised because these immunizations are costly and offer little to no protection for adults.
Safe Sex: Avoid having several sexual partners as much as you can in order to practice safe sex. Protect yourself against HPV and other sexually transmitted infections.
STDs Checkups: Get checked for other sexually transmitted diseases: As a precaution, it is advisable to get tested for other sexually transmitted diseases if you have warts.

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Can I infect my family with HPV? If my partner has HPV, do I also have it? Is having genital warts a cause for concern?

Indeed, your sexual partner or even other family members may contract HPV. When an HPV-infected skin or mucous membrane comes into direct or indirect contact with another person, HPV is spread. We refer to this as horizontal transmission. Sharing personal belongings, such as towels, or using dirty hands are two examples.

See the following guideline to safeguard your partner if you have noticeable warts. To keep other family members safe:

Always wash your hands after handling the diseased area and warts.
Never give your family members access to your personal belongings, such as clothing or towels.

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What is the most effective way to stop HPV from spreading?

In contrast to many other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HPV transmission can only be lessened; it cannot be stopped entirely.

You should take the following precautions if you have warts to lessen the likelihood that they will spread to your sexual partner:

Abstinence: When there are visible warts, this is the only established way to drastically lower the transmission. Condoms do offer some protection, but regrettably, they cannot ensure complete protection. Because visible warts have a very high concentration of the virus and can spread it quickly, experts advise total abstinence when the warts are visible.
Communicate honestly with your partner: Although this may be a challenging discussion, it would be beneficial to let them know why you would like to hold off until the issues are resolved. Please be aware that sharing a towel or any other direct or indirect skin contact can spread genital warts, in addition to sexual transmission.
Use of topical creams: Our physician may recommend topical creams such as Podophyllotoxin Cream, which inhibits cell division, or Imiquimod Cream, which enhances local immunity. These lotions might assist in getting rid of warts that are noticeable.

How can I know if I have anal or genital warts? Do genital warts hurt?

Just by glancing at it, you can determine if you have genital warts.

These have light skin tones and can show up as little skin elevations or larger growths that resemble cauliflowers.
These can spread and grow quickly, and they typically show up in clusters.
These warts don't hurt; if they do, they might not be genital warts or they may have a secondary infection.

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Are there any tests available to diagnose genital warts? Do genital warts have a blood test?

Blood testing or other specialized diagnostic procedures are not required for genital warts. A doctor's physical examination is sufficient for diagnosis. Based on your medical history, our doctor may recommend additional STD testing because genital warts are linked to HPV, which is sexually transmitted. To better understand your health status, the STD test is more of a preventative approach.

Furthermore, because women exposed to HPV have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer, our doctor might advise routine cervical cancer screening for your general well-being. For affordable genital warts removal cost in Trivandrum, you can reach Smart Surgeons website.

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Is it possible to eradicate HPV?

Like many infections, HPV has no known treatment. The good news is that the HPV virus is regulated by the body's immune system, just like the majority of viruses. Therefore, the only pharmacological method of HPV prevention is vaccination.

Regretfully, neither human immune system nor even wart removal treatments completely eradicate the infection. Recurrence of genital warts is possible because the virus still survives inside the epithelial cells.

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How can I strengthen my defenses against warts? Which vitamins are anti-wart?

The HPV vaccine is one of the scientifically validated strategies that can assist the body in producing antibodies that are specific to the HPV virus. However, this vaccine is not widely used in India, and even fewer people have received it because of the age limit for its effectiveness.

There are additional strategies to strengthen your general immunity, which can aid in the removal of the virus and increase your chances of overcoming anal or genital warts. Since there is a wealth of information on the subject, we won't go into broad immunity-boosting strategies like consistent exercise and a healthy diet.

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Which vaginal wart treatment is the most effective? How can genital warts be removed the quickest?

The elimination of genital or anal warts can theoretically be accomplished via topical treatments, laser removal, or surgery. In addition to laser genital warts removal in Trivandrum, a doctor may also recommend topical creams as part of a mix of these.

Because CO2 lasers are available, we at Smart Surgeons offer the most innovative therapy for genital or anal warts:

For tiny warts, we employ laser or radiofrequency (RF) to burn off the wart tissue precisely while causing the least amount of harm to the surrounding tissue.
Our surgeon can use a scalpel and cautery to remove the wart tissue in bigger warts (growths that resemble cauliflower). ‍
In order to lower the danger of transmission and recurrence, our doctor will also recommend topical treatments.
The quickest methods for getting rid of visible warts include laser and surgical excision. Even after visible warts are eliminated, it should be remembered that no method now in use will totally eliminate the risk of HPV transmission.

Smart Surgeons are one of the best to consider for genital warts removal surgery in Trivandrum.

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Can warts be removed non-surgically?

The body's immune system can eliminate genital warts on its own over several months. The majority of our patients seek wart removal because they are ashamed or have aesthetic problems.

You can talk to our surgeon about topical therapies or creams as a first line of treatment if you are afraid of laser or surgical wart removal.

Based on your medical history, including the size and duration of the warts, our surgeon can provide you with guidance. From the laser treatment for genital warts removal in Kerala to other options available to you, you can select the one that best suits your needs.

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What is laser excision of genital warts? Is it safe to remove warts with lasers?

Laser wart removal is the process of destroying wart tissue with a high intensity laser, such as a CO2 laser. Compared to other techniques like cryotherapy, lasers offer a great healing and recovery period and inflict the least amount of damage on surrounding tissues because of their high precision. Because of their accuracy, lasers work best on sensitive parts like the face and genitalia.

When performed by qualified medical professionals, laser removal is a safe and effective way to get rid of visible warts.

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Is it acceptable to ignore warts? How can genital warts be treated at home?

Anal or genital warts should not be ignored, and you should see a physician about them:

Untreated warts may enlarge; bigger warts may require surgical excision since they cannot be eliminated by laser.

If left untreated, developing warts have a greater propensity to spread to other areas of the body.

Our genital warts removal treatment in Kerala doctors can recommend topical treatments that are only available with a prescription to control the infection, even if you are not interested in laser wart removal. You can use these topical creams at home.

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Can I get rid of genital warts on my own? Is popping a wart acceptable?

No, removing genital warts on your own is not advised. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the source of genital warts, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that needs medical attention to guarantee appropriate eradication and avoid consequences.

In addition to making the condition more complicated, removing warts on your own raises your chance of developing secondary bacterial and fungal infections.

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Can warts be removed with garlic? Can warts be removed with lemon? Can warts be removed with toothpaste? Can warts be removed with turmeric? How can I get rid of my genital warts on my own?

Although some home treatments, such as tea tree oil and garlic extract, have been the subject of a few short studies, these are not included in any therapy recommendations. Organizations like the WHO or UDFDA would have incorporated them into their guidelines if the evidence had been strong. The experts at Smart Surgeons will not suggest these home remedies because of the conflicting evidence and absence of guidelines.

These home cures also run the risk of damaging nearby tissues, which could make therapy more difficult. There are numerous well-known websites that discuss natural cures, but keep in mind that their main objective is to increase website traffic rather than to handle your medical care. Since they bear direct responsibility for the care and well-being of their patients, the majority of legitimate healthcare professionals avoid sharing this type of content, if you look attentively.

Regarding at-home solutions, we advise reading our self-care section, which provides safer advice that is suggested by medical professionals.

Is there a chance that laser genital wart treatment could leave scars?

The elimination of laser warts follows the normal healing process of first scabbing, in which a scab is formed by dead tissue. After one to two weeks, the scab breaks off naturally, and it may take three to four weeks for the wound to heal completely.

The size of the wart affects the likelihood of scarring; smaller warts heal without leaving any scars, while larger ones may. Thus, even if your warts are minor, it is crucial to get in touch with a physician or Smart Surgeons. Smaller warts usually go away without leaving any scars.

Post-operative self-care, as described in our aftercare section, can lower the chance of scarring.

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How can I lessen the possibility of scarring after removing genital warts?

The following are aftercare instructions for laser wart removal:

After you get laser treatment for genital warts in Trivandrum, for two to three weeks, refrain from having sex to promote healing and lower the risk of infection.
As directed, take the medications that your doctor has recommended.
Use a mild soap solution to keep the area clean.
In order to encourage healing and lessen swelling, apply a cool compress to the treated region.
Following laser wart removal, the treated region can be moisturized using a fragrance-free product. This reduces irritation and maintains skin hydration.
To speed up the healing process and raise the risk of infection or scarring, resist the urge to pick at scabs or scratch the treated area. Allow the crusts or scabs to fall off on their own.

The following are post-operative instructions for surgical wart removal:

For two to three weeks, refrain from having sex to promote healing and lower the risk of infection.
Wear clean, soft underpants to protect the treated area. If necessary, swap out the underpants to keep the region dry.
Use a mild soap solution to keep the area clean.
To prevent a secondary infection, refrain from picking and scratching the region.

You should notify Smart Surgeons right away if there is any redness or swelling so that we can provide you with prompt guidance.

If a wart is removed, will it regrow? How likely are genital warts to recur?

Recurrence risk for genital warts is intrinsic and can reach 40%. Even when the wart is removed, the HPV infection remains in the epidermal cells, which is the cause of its recurrence.

The median period for recurrence of these warts is 70 months.

Our doctor might recommend topical treatments to lower the chance of recurrence, but no doctor can ensure that there won't be any.

To lower the chance of recurrence, you can adhere to the advice in our section on self-care.

What is the cost genital warts removal in Kerala?

The cost of genital warts removal depends on the following factor:

Availability of technology: Many gynecology or urology clinics who treat genital warts may not be equipped with a CO2 laser, hence cannot offer this treatment. The cost is of surgical excision.
Size of the warts: Smaller warts are faster to remove needing less time from the doctor. Larger warts need more time and sometimes it cannot be removed by laser, where surgical excision is the only choice
Number of warts: More number of warts increase the cost as it adds to the treatment time

Depending on these factors the cost can vary from 15,000 to 50,000.

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Is genital warts removal covered by insurance in Kerala?

No. Insurance does not cover genital warts treatment. Private and even Kerala State Insurance companies consider genital warts removal as a cosmetic procedure. The reason for this is that genital warts removal does not treat the actual infection and only helps in getting rid of visible warts. This is treated as a cosmetic treatment by insurance company and they deny the insurance.

Genital warts removal in Kerala

Genital warts removal services in Kerala

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