How are genital warts treated?
Genital warts can be treated or not treated. Some people may want warts taken off if they cause itching, burning, and discomfort. Others may want to clear up warts you can see with the eye. If you decide to have warts removed, do not use over-the-counter medicines meant for other kinds of warts. There are special treatments for genital warts. Your doctor may treat the warts by putting on a chemical in the office. Or your doctor may prescribe a cream you can apply at home. Surgery is also an option. Your doctor may: • Use an electric current to burn off the warts • Use a light/laser to destroy warts • Freeze off the warts • Cut the warts out Even when warts are treated, the HPV virus may remain. This is why warts can come back after treatment. It isn’t clear if treating genital warts lowers a person’s chance of giving HPV to a sex partner. It is not fully known why low-risk HPV causes genital warts in some cases and not in others. If left untreated, genital warts may: • Go away • Remain
