Can genital warts be treated?

Yes. A variety of treatments are available for established cases of genital warts. The following are treatment options on how to get rid of genital warts:

• Podophyllotoxin, 0.5% solution or 0.15% cream. Apply twice daily for 3 days, followed by 4 days’ rest, for up to 4 weeks. It is suitable for home treatment of external warts. Rub Vaseline or petroleum jelly at the base of the warts before rubbing the cream to avoid burns. Podophyllin should not be used in pregnant women.
• Imiquimod cream applied 3 times weekly (and washed off after 6-10 hours) for up to 16 weeks is also suitable for external warts. Contraindicated in pregnancy)
• podophyllin and imiquimod creams are home remedies for getting rid of genital warts.
• Cryotherapy which involves freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen is also a treatment modality, but the recurrence rate is high.
• Surgery can be used for genital warts removal. This is done under local or general anesthesia
• Electrocautery, involving cutting the warts with electric current is a treatment option for warts. It is now discarded because of the risk of inhalation of HPV associated with it. An inhaled HPV fume/smoke can cause laryngeal carcinoma to the doctor and staff in the treatment room if the treatment room doesn't have a proper ventilation system.

Does PULSE Singapore provide anal wart or genital wart treatment?

PULSE CLINIC offers treatment for anal and genital warts, as well as warty lesions in other areas of the body. You can book an appointment for an STD test, treatment, or consultation.

We follow sexually transmitted infection treatment and prevention guidelines, utilizing podophyllin or trichloroacetic acid (TCA).

Chemical cautery using a 60 to 90 percent TCA solution is particularly effective for treating a few small, moist lesions.

TCA eliminates genital warts by destroying the proteins in the affected cells. However, it can also damage normal cells, so it's essential for a well-trained doctor to apply it carefully. TCA is typically applied once a week, ensuring that only the wart is treated to minimize irritation to surrounding healthy tissue.

How well does it work?

Studies indicate that TCA treatment can eliminate warts in up to 80 out of 100 cases after six weeks of treatment, depending on the size and location of the lesions. TCA works best on small, moist wart areas.

What are the side effects of treatment?

TCA typically causes mild to moderate discomfort at the application site for several minutes. The medication is not easily absorbed into the body, so it may result in local skin irritation but not systemic side effects. Controlling the depth of acid penetration into the skin can be challenging; if it penetrates too deeply, you might experience pain, skin irritation, and ulcers that will eventually heal. Common side effects include burning, swelling in the treated area, and skin tenderness.

What else do I need to know?

If large areas of warts need to be removed and multiple treatments are required, doctors may advise against TCA due to potential pain and burning. Genital warts can sometimes resolve on their own. It's important to note that treating warts does not eliminate the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes them; the virus may remain in the body in an inactive form even after the warts are gone. As a result, a person who has been treated for genital warts can still transmit the infection. While condoms can help reduce the risk of HPV transmission, it’s crucial to weigh the benefits and effectiveness of each treatment option against their side effects and costs. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

Can HPV infection be prevented?

Condoms don't guarantee protection from infection. This is because HPV can be transmitted by skin contact with areas not covered by condoms.

One of the best ways to protect yourself from HPV infection is to get the vaccine. The vaccine protects against 4 types of HPV (types 6, 11, 16, and 18) that can cause cancer and genital warts. 

HPV Vaccine

• Age less than 15 years old: 2-dose regimen (day 1 and month 6)
• Age above 15 years old: 3-dose regimen (day 1, month 1-2, month 6)
• Immunocompromised people such as HIV-infected patients: 3-dose regimen (day 1, month 1-2, month 6) regardless of age

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