Although people may feel embarrassed to have them, genital warts are among the most common STDs. They can be large and uncomfortable, but often are small and easily overlooked. They will clear up on their own, but if they’re bothering you, they can also be removed by a doctor or at home using a prescription cream.
There are a few different STDs that can cause sores on the genitals, although it’s usually easy for a doctor to tell the difference between them, because the sores look different from each other. Genital herpes causes sores that start as small blisters, then pop open into small ulcers, before healing. The sores of genital herpes usually cause a painful or burning sensation.
Genital warts can vary in appearance. Some are large and cauliflower-shaped, and have a rough surface. Others are smaller and may be flat or nearly flat. Sometimes they are painful or itchy, but %genital warts% often don’t cause discomfort and may be easily overlooked by the patient.
This helps to explain why genital warts are among the most common STDs. Many people with warts don’t even know that they have them, so they spread the warts to their new sexual partners. In addition, people can be carriers of the virus that causes genital warts without actually having any warts, making it very easy to spread the virus unknowingly.
Usually, the diagnosis of genital warts is obvious to a doctor at an %STD clinic%. If the diagnosis isn’t clear, then a biopsy of the wart can be sent to a laboratory for testing. In this case, the doctor will usually remove the entire wart, so the disease will be treated at the same time.
Genital warts usually clear up on their own after about a year. If the warts aren’t bothering you, one option is to simply wait for them to go away. However, even if you’re choosing this option, it’s best to visit an STD clinic to ensure an accurate diagnosis. It’s very common for people to make a mistaken self-diagnosis. A doctor at an %STD clinic in Singapore% can ensure that what you have is actually genital warts, rather than some other disease. Also, it’s common for more than one STD to be transmitted at the same time, so you may need testing to ensure that you don’t have other diseases as well.
If your warts are bothering you or interfering with functions such as sex, then they can be removed. Your healthcare provider can give you a prescription for a topical medication that can be applied at home. For larger warts, or for those who want to take care of the problem right away, the wart can be removed at the STD clinic. There are a few options, including freezing the wart, cutting the wart off, or using a strong medication to remove it. You will be offered local anaesthesia to make the area numb if you’re worried about the discomfort of the wart removal.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Genital HPV Infection – Fact Sheet.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 19 May 2016. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Genital Warts.” Mayo Clinic. Published 2 Jan 2014. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-warts/basics/definition/con-20019380
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Anogenital Warts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published 4 Jun 2015. Accessed 20 Jun 2016. http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/warts.htm
References
Genital at Shim Clinic, Singapore