What treatment is available for HPV?
All sexual partners must be evaluated and treated, as sexual partners may carry the virus and, if untreated, they may re-infect the treated partner. Condoms are effective to prevent re-infection and transmission of the virus. Small lesions can be treated by topical application of podophyllum, an extract of the May apple, which interferes with the virus. The medication must be removed with soap and water 4 hours after the application. Podophyllum usually requires weekly application. Interferon is a reasonably new antiviral drug that can be injected directly into the lesion. The disadvantage is the expense and the necessity for 9 office visits (3 times a week for 3 weeks) for a normal course of treatment. Cryotherapy consists of the application of liquid nitrogen to the lesions. This treatment destroys the virus by freezing. Scarring is a rare complication of cryotherapy. Surgical excision is often the quickest and most effective treatment for large lesions and those that do not respond
