Genital warts are caused by infection from several strains of the human papilloma virus, which is transmitted through sexual contact. Certain strains have been known to cause cervical cancer in women. The FDA has approved many different treatments, some to treat the symptoms of infection, and one vaccine, known under the trade name Gardasil.
Treatment
There is no cure for HPV once infected, and the only treatment is relatively cosmetic in nature. No treatment has been able to prevent the future eruption of warts. This includes preventive measures, various types of creams or solutions intended for the removal of warts, and doctor-administered treatments.
It is important to avoid touching, scratching or having contact with warts, as they are pathogenic and can actively spread HPV via direct contact. Patients with warts present should abstain from sex to prevent transmission of the disease to their partner.
There are several creams and solutions available that help destroy warts, although they do not prevent warts from recurring in the area of application. These include trichloroacetic acid, Condylox, Podofin, Efudex and Aldara. All have minor side effects, which include minor skin irritation or localized pain. If none of these are effective, Alferon N may be used as a direct injection into the wart, although it has many side effects.
At the doctor's office, there are several different methods of wart removal. Freezing the wart (called cryotherapy), generally through the use of liquid nitrogen, destroys it and makes removal very simple. There are very few side effects to this treatment, and it is extremely effective. Laser treatment can be used if there is a very large outbreak with numerous warts, and in some cases can necessitate anesthesia. The laser destroys the warts, but the treatment is expensive and can lead to numerous unwanted side effects, including scarring and a lengthy recovery period. Surgical removal of the warts can be performed, and requires a local numbing agent. Finally, destroying the wart with an electrical current (called electrodessication) can be performed.
It is important to restate that once infected, there is no cure for HPV-caused genital warts, and the presence of warts indicates a highly contagious condition.
Gardasil
Recently, the FDA approved Gardasil, a vaccine developed by Merck. Gardasil creates an effective immunity against four different HPV strains, two of which cause over 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer in women, and two strains that cause over 90 percent of all genital wart infections in men and women. Gardasil uses a viral protein to trigger antibody creation in the body.
Gardasil is recommended before the recipient becomes sexually active, and is administered over six months via three separate injections. In most areas, it is not approved for use in men, but Merck is currently seeking FDA approval for that use.
Side effects of the Gardasil HPV vaccine include those that are relatively typical of adult vaccinations, including dizziness, vomiting and discomfort at the injection site. There is a chance of allergic reaction, and symptoms typically associated with allergic reactions should be evaluated by a doctor immediately. These include shock, extreme difficulty breathing, significant swelling, severe nausea and diarrhea.
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