Genital Warts Treatment

Genital warts, also referred to as venereal warts or condylomata acuminata, are a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) characterised by small, skin-coloured bumps located on or around the vagina, penis or anus.

Genital warts may be invisible during the early stages of an outbreak, which is why it is important to attend regular sexual health check-ups to prevent their formation and mitigate their spread.

Regular screenings can help with detecting the virus that causes genital warts before the warts form, facilitating early intervention and treatment.

Genital warts are a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Genital warts can spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, as well as through contact with genital secretions.

Using barrier contraceptives, such as condoms, can reduce the risk of contracting HPV and experiencing an outbreak of genital warts.

The symptoms of genital warts can include:

• The appearance of one or more skin-coloured rough bumps (warts) around the intimate area
• Itching and discomfort in the intimate area
• Discomfort and/or bleeding during sexual intercourse
• Urinary problems such as difficulty or discomfort while urinating, frequent urination, bloody urine, and/or a change to normal urinary flow (such as starting and stopping frequently while urinating)

Men and women are likely to experience the same symptoms of genital warts. However, women can also experience increased vaginal discharge and dampness.

If an individual experiences any symptoms of genital warts, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible to receive treatment and minimise the risk of viral transmission.

Genital warts are a common STI in the UK, with the latest government data indicating 26,079 diagnoses in 2022.

It is advisable to get tested regularly and use condoms, especially with new sexual partners, to minimise the risk of contracting genital warts.

The best treatments for genital warts include:

• Warticon 0.15% Cream - a topical cream that contains 0.15% podophyllotoxin, an antiviral active ingredient which targets and eliminates HPV (the virus that causes genital warts). Warticon 0.15% Cream is formulated to be applied directly to genital warts and works by killing the cells infected by HPV, preventing cell division and replication, thereby reducing the likelihood of new warts appearing.
• Warticon 0.5% Solution - a solution containing 0.5% podophyllotoxin that can be applied using the applicator provided with the treatment. Similar to Warticon Cream, the active ingredient in Warticon 0.5% Solution works by destroying HPV-infected cells in the body, stopping the infected cells from dividing and multiplying. The cessation of cell replication prevents genital warts from spreading and new warts from emerging. For more detailed information on genital wart treatments, check out our Ultimate Guide to Treating Genital Warts.
• Aldara Cream - a topical cream containing 5% of the active ingredient imiquimod. Imiquimod is an immune response modifier (IRM) which helps eradicate HPV and genital warts by activating the immune system to identify and kill HPV-infected skin cells.

Genital warts cannot be cured as HPV stays in the body indefinitely. However, genital warts can be treated and managed using topical treatments such as Warticon 0.5% Solution, Warticon 0.15% Cream and Aldara Cream.