How to get rid of genital warts

Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They appear as small, fleshy and (usually) painless lumps that are flesh-coloured and often cauliflower-like in texture.

Genital warts are acquired through unprotected vaginal, anal and occasionally oral sex. But how do you get rid of them?

How to get rid of genital warts

The short answer is that you cannot “get rid” of genital warts completely. The virus that causes the warts (HPV) is not one that the body can expel completely. So you can effectively treat (and get rid of) the warts, but they will normally keep coming back over time because the virus remains in the body.

However, that’s no reason to worry. If you do contract genital warts, a doctor or sexual health professional will usually be able to diagnose them by appearance. This is unless, of course, the genital warts are growing internally. In this case, they can be diagnosed by the way they affect your urine stream, or the itching or bleeding they can cause.

Once diagnosed, there are a number of effective treatment options:

Medication

Medication for genital warts is available in a number of forms, including creams and gels. These will normally need to be applied a few times a week until the warts have cleared, and popular treatments include Catephen Ointment, Condyline, Aldara and Warticon. You can buy effective genital wart treatment from UK Meds without an existing prescription.

Freezing

If your warts do not clear from topical medications, then another way to get rid of them is with freezing. This has to be done by a qualified doctor or nurse (usually at a sexual health clinic), and treatment typically takes place once a week for 4 weeks.

Surgery

For stubborn warts that haven’t responded to other treatments, a doctor or nurse may be able to surgically remove them via cutting, burning or lasering methods. However, this can cause irritation and scarring so is generally seen as a last resort.

Home remedies

There are a number of home remedies that people have tried with varying degrees of success. Tea tree oil, green tea and garlic extract have all been reported as successful at treating genital warts from home, however, it’s better to go with a medically-commended approach for a better success rate.

Things you shouldn’t do if you have genital warts

Genital warts are usually harmless - they are normally painless and don’t cause the majority of sufferers any real issues. However, they can be unsightly and so most people prefer to treat (and get rid of) them.

But there are some things you definitely shouldn’t do if you have genital warts. The most important one being not to try and treat them with wart solutions from the shop or pharmacy (such as Bazuka). These are not designed for use on genital warts and could lead to irritation or pain if used incorrectly.

You also shouldn’t have sex if you notice genital warts. They are extremely contagious and are one of the STIs that condoms can’t guarantee protection from. Refrain from sexual contact (including vaginal, oral and anal sex) until the warts have cleared up.

Some medications do not treat genital warts, however, they are used to treat other warts. You can purchase wart and verruca medication online from UK Meds, including Salactol Wart Paint and Salatac Gel.

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