Genital warts are a common STI caused by a strain of genital HPV. At least one type of HPV infects almost all sexually active individuals in their lifetime. These types of warts appear as small and flesh-colored bumps. Vaccines are available to protect you against particular strains of HPV. If you think that you have genital warts, please contact us for HPV testing Los Angeles.

Symptoms

Men can develop genital warts on the tip of their penis, anus, or scrotum. In women, they can appear on the vulva, cervix, anal canal, and between their anus and external genitals. Warts can appear in the throat or mouth of both men and women who has had oral sexual contact with someone that is infected with the virus. Some symptoms include:

  • Genital itching or discomfort
  • Unusual genital bleeding
  • Small, gray or flesh-colored bumps in the genital area
  • A cluster of warts that have a cauliflower-like shape

Causes

The human papillomavirus, otherwise known as HPV causes genital warts. There are over forty different known strains of HPV that affect the genitals and are spread through sexual contact or intercourse. You may encounter a case where your immune system destroys the virus before you ever develop any symptoms.

Treatment

The virus itself cannot be treated.

It isn’t uncommon for individuals to never need any kind of treatment, especially if the warts are not causing discomfort. However, the outbreak can be cleared with surgery or medication if your symptoms include pain, burning, itching, or if the warts are causing emotional distress.

  • Medication options are applied right to your skin and include:
    • Imiquimod (Zyclara, Aldara) – A cream that boosts your immune system to fight against the warts
    • Trichloroacetic Acid – A chemical treatment used to burn off genital warts
    • Podophyllin – A plant-based resin that eliminates the wart tissue
    • Sinecatechins – A cream used to treat external genital warts
  • Surgery may be needed to remove larger warts or ones that aren’t responding to medication, and options include:
    • Freezing off warts with liquid nitrogen
    • Using an electrical current to burn the wart off
    • The use of special tools to cut the wart, or warts, off
    • Laser treatment

If you are concerned that you may have HPV or genital warts, please contact us at (213) 261-4090 or schedule an appointment online for HPV testing Los Angeles.