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When to consult a doctor in case of genital warts



Genital warts are caused due to HPV which is one of the most common STDs. HPV is basically a virus that can spread through sexual contact with an infected individual and depending on the type of HPV it might cause genital warts and in certain high risk types even cervical cancer.

There is still no known cure for HPV although there is a vaccine available for preventing the infection from the virus. The symptoms can be treated though, and treatment for genital warts is possible in several different ways.

Genital warts can occur is different sizes and shapes in men and women, in certain rare cases even children might be affected. In most cases genital warts do disappear on their own, however, it is important to know when you should consult a doctor.

The symptoms mentioned below are some of the common symptoms of genital warts:

• Rashes, sores or bumps occurring in the genital area or anal region.

• Vaginal discharge in women that might smell bad.

• Discomfort, pain or burning during sex or while urination.

• In men too there might an abnormal discharge from the penis.

In case you experience any of the above mentioned symptoms you must consult a doctor to check for HPV. It is advisable to abstain from sex until a diagnosis from the doctor since if you have HPV it might be transmitted to a partner through sex.

Children in some cases might get genital warts treatment too. It is important to get a child with symptoms of genital warts examined by a doctor as soon as possible since there might a chance of sexual abuse and possible HPV. A child might also get HPV from an infected mother during pregnancy which might result in genital warts or warts in the mouth or throat.

On consulting a doctor, the doctor might want to wait and see if the genital warts disappear on their own before prescribing any medicines. In most cases, where the genital warts are not too severe there is no requirement for medicines and in time they go away on their own. A doctor would usually examine the warts and do a few tests to determine the presence of HPV genital warts or any other types of STDs that might have caused the genital warts in the first place.

Depending on the below mentioned factors the doctor might wait for weeks or even for a few months before prescribing a treatment method for the genital warts:

• The severity of the symptoms of genital warts.

• The doctor would evaluate the risks of waiting before deciding to wait for the treatment.

• In case of a pregnant woman who has genital warts the doctor might decide not to wait at all or to wait for a very short time before getting treatment.

• The medical history of the individual and the chances of any complications developing due to the genital warts and the chances of the individual having HPV in case the patient has had unprotected sex or have had multiple sex partners recently.