Genital warts (HPV) treatment - Online visit

Genital warts are caused by a human papillomavirus (HPV). There are over 180 subtypes of HPV, but the vast majority of people with genital warts have type 6 or type 11. These low-risk infections can trigger small growths (warts) on mucosal surfaces like the genitals or anus. Other subtypes of HPV, particularly type 16 and 18, are considered high risk because they may eventually lead to cancer in both men and women.

HPV spreads through sexual contact as the virus enters the body through fragile skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV is the world's most common sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Genital warts (condyloma acuminatum) are usually small, flesh-colored, and painless growths. They can appear separately or in clusters. When in clusters, they may have a cauliflower shape. They can sometimes be itchy.

In men, genital warts can appear on the tip or shaft of the penis, the scrotum, and/or the anus (anal warts).

In women, genital warts can appear outside or inside the vagina, around the anus, and/or on the perineum (the area between the vagina and the anus).

Genital warts are diagnosed in person by visual inspection and sometimes through further testing. You must have a prior diagnosis of HPV from a healthcare provider to get genital warts treatment through Amazon Clinic.

Low-risk HPV can be diagnosed from a confirmed outbreak of genital warts. But 90% of people with HPV won't get genital warts. In fact, their infections will go away on their own within about 2 years.

When certain HPV infections don't clear naturally, they can bring serious long-term health risks. High-risk types of HPV infection are associated with the following cancers:

If you're a woman, the only way to detect an HPV infection that can cause cervical dysplasia or cancer is through regular Pap smears. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women aged 21 to 29 get Pap smears every 3 years. Women aged 30 to 65 can either get Pap smears every 3 years, opt for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing every 5 years, or get both screenings every 5 years.

If you're a man who has sex with men (MSM), a healthcare provider may recommend an anal Pap smear to test for cell abnormalities.

Genital warts can appear months or years after someone is infected with HPV 6 or 11. Therefore, it can be difficult to determine when the exposure to HPV occurred. It's possible to infect sex partners with the virus even if you never get HPV symptoms like genital warts. Condoms are only somewhat effective in blocking transmission, as they don't prevent all skin-to-skin contact.

Genital warts may spontaneously go away within a year. With genital warts treatment, the warts can resolve much faster—within 3 months.

Clinicians usually recommend trying a new genital wart therapy if your warts haven't responded after 3 weeks or if they haven't gone away completely after 6 to 12 weeks of wart treatment.

Because these treatments don't cure the human papillomavirus (HPV) itself, it's not uncommon for genital warts to return, especially within the first few months after treatment.

You can get the 9 valent HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9, Cervarix) through the age of 26. HPV vaccination is most effective when it's given before someone becomes sexually active, which is why it's often recommended for children aged 9 to 12. If you're over the age of 26, you can talk to a healthcare provider about the vaccine's efficacy.

HPV vaccination prevents you from getting a number of subtypes of the virus, including types 6 and 11 (low risk) and types 16 and 18 (high risk). These infections can cause conditions that range from genital warts to anal cancer.

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