Why Should You Talk With Your Doctor About Genital Warts?

Genital warts that often show up skin-colored bumps on the genitals are one of the very common STDs in the US. If you have this STD or if you think you might have, it’s crucial to talk with your doctor about genital warts. The doctor can help you understand the STD and look for the best ways to remove the warts. If you’re still shy to talk with your doctor, the following reasons may change your mind.

How Common Are Genital Warts in the US?

Anyone who is sexually active has an equal chance of contracting genital warts caused by HPV. This STD is very common that every sexually active person will get it at some point in their life if they don’t get HPV vaccine.  In the US, approximately 500,000 to 1,000,000 new cases of genital warts are diagnosed each year.

The commonness of genital warts among men and boys between the ages of 15 and 39 in the US notably increased between 2003 and 2009. Luckily, the rate has remained in the recent years. Also, the rate of contracting genital warts among women has been various increased and diseased over time. But overall, it has fallen in female ages 15 to 24 due to the HPV vaccines.

You may increase the risk for genital warts if you:

• Are sexually active at very young
• Have unprotected sex with many sexual partners
• Get pregnant
• Have a weakened immune system
• Are stressed and have a viral infection, such as genital herpes

Related: Is It Possible for Dating Someone With HPV?

Genital warts are very common in the US

Why Should You Talk With Your Doctor About Genital Warts?

Many people who have symptoms of genital warts are very shy to let anyone know, even if a doctor. But only your doctor can understand the STD and guide you how to deal with it. If you hesitate at seeing your doctor, the following reasons may change your mind.

1. Your Doctor Gives an Accurate Diagnosis if You Have Genital Warts

Why you should talk with your doctor about genital warts. It’s simply explained that only the doctor can give an accurate diagnosis if you have genital warts. In reality, genital warts are sometimes confused with other STDs because of similar symptoms, such as genital herpes. While genital warts is caused by the HPV, herpes simplex virus is responsible for genital herpes. Before treating any disease, finding out the causes is really crucial. To be sure what causes your disease, the doctor will examine your symptoms and practice some tests to diagnose.

Generally, genital warts mostly result from HPV 6 and HPV 11. These strains of HPV can be spread through sexual activities, but they sometimes don’t present symptoms due to your strong immune system.

While you talk with your doctor about genital warts, your doctor may suggest a Pap smear test if you’re a woman. The Pap smear test is helpful to detect abnormal cells in the cervix that can develop into cervical cancer. Several high-risk HPV strains, such as HPV 16 and HPV 18 are responsible for certain cancers in the cervix, throat, and anus.

You should talk with your doctor about genital warts

2. Your Doctor Will Provide Proper Treatment for Your Genital Warts

While some STDs can be treated with antibiotics, there’s no cure for genital warts. Your doctor, however, knows how to remove them. Depending on the severity of your disease, the doctor will provide proper treatments.

Treatment options for genital warts generally include

• Creams and gels. Imiquimod cream, Vidarox cream, and Podofilox gel are effective in removing warts. Your doctor may prescribe one of them that you can apply at home. These can enhance your own immune cells and help the warts clear up over time. Click “OTC treatments for genital warts”
• Acid solutions. The doctor can use bichloroacetic or trichloroacetic acid to get rid of warts. A small amount of the acid will be applied to genital warts once a week. This option can dissolve the warts or may make them to blisters and fall off. But it only works best for small and moist warts.
• Cryotherapy. Your doctor also freezes your genital warts by using liquid nitrogen and cryoprobe- a special device. If you have many warts, the doctor will numb the area first with anesthetic.
• Surgery. The treatment option is used to remove large genital warts. After numbing the affected area with anesthetic, your doctor uses different methods to remove the warts. The methods can include cutting, shaving, using a laser, or burning them off.

Related: What Do You Need to Know About Laser Therapy for Genital Warts?

Your doctor will give proper treatment if you have genital warts

3. Your Doctor Will Guide How to Prevent Genital Wart Recurrences

Even though your genital warts are successfully removed, you have still had genital wart recurrences during your lifetime. Besides, you may spread HPV to others during intercourse. That’s why it’s important to talk with your doctor about genital warts. The doctor will show you some useful tips to prevent genital wart recurrences.

• Boost your immune system. Eating healthy foods to get enough nutrition for the body. But avoid some types of foods containing arginine that can trigger HPV outbreaks. These food include caffeine, alcohol, nuts, and cheese. Instead, try to increase strong antiviral food intake
• Reduce stress. There’s a fact that stress weakens your immune system, which makes you more vulnerable to genital wart recurrence. So it’s good to know what causes your stress and manage them.
• Practice a safe sex life. Although condoms aren’t 100% effective for preventing HPV, they lower your risk of developing it. Plus, condoms protect your partner from getting the STD.
• Avoid sex if you have visible warts. Genital warts are passed through skin-to-skin contact during intercourse. Thus, abstaining from sex if you have visible warts is helpful.

For those who haven’t been infected with genital warts, the most effective way to prevent this STD is HPV vaccines. Getting HPV vaccines helps to fight against some strains of HPV that cause genital warts and cervical cancer.

Because of a highly contagious STD, genital warts are very common. It’s better to talk with your doctor about genital warts if you think you have symptoms of the disease. Don’t hesitate to talk with your doctor as the doctor will help you to remove the warts fast and effectively.