The aim of treatment is to remove clinically evident warts.
No treatment has been demonstrated to eradicate HPV.
All treatment modalities are associated with high recurrence rates
In some cases, genital warts may regress spontaneously but this can take a few years
Intrameatal warts cryotherapy only
Cervical warts need referral to colposcopy
Urethroscopy is indicated before treating recurrent meatal warts, and proctoscopy before treatment of perianal warts
Consider obtaining a specialist review in HIV positive with anal warts
Internal rectal & vaginal warts may spontaneously resolve after treatment to external warts
After treating external warts, review internal warts for resolution or determination of further treatment
Cryotherapy
Liquid nitrogen is applied to visible warts at weekly intervals until resolution. Warts can usually be treated with two 15 to 30 second freeze thaw cycles
The nozzle tip of the spray gun is held about 1cm from the treatment site & liquid nitrogen is sprayed on the lesion until a 2-3 mm ice halo is formed around the wart.
Side effects can include a small risk of scaring, hypo or hyperpigmentation and should be discussed prior to treatment
Avoid cryotherapy to large areas and in particular cirumferential cryotherapy to the penis
Patients may experience pain and or blistering at the site of freezing.
A weak salt solution is an effective skin wash after cryotherapy
Patients may benefit from simple analgesia
Efficacy rates around 70% and recurrence rates around 30%
Podophyllotoxin
This is self applied treatment
Efficacy rates around 70% and recurrence rates around 30%
The doctor should demonstrate the proper application technique and identify which warts should be treated.
Podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution or 0.15% cream topical 12 hourly for 3 days followed by 4 days of no therapy. This cycle may be repeated up to a total of 4 times after which time the patient should return for review. The total wart area being treated should not exceed 10cm2 and the total volume should be limited to 0.5ml per day (D)
Warning
Do not use in pregnancy
Do not use on cervical, rectal or urethral warts (because of difficulty in preventing damage to adjacent moist tissues and the potential for systemic absorption).
Treat warts in the outer vagina or vestibular area with extreme caution. Only treat small isolated warts and allow to dry, to minimise contact with normal mucosa.
Never use large volumes by treating extensive or very large warts.
Imiquimod
This is self applied treatment.It is more effective for women than men.
Imiquimod is an immune response modifier and treatment response typically takes 12 to 6 weeks.
Imiquimod 5% cream once a day topically and washed off 6-10 hours three times per week on alternate days for up to 16 weeks (B1)
Note the following:
Assess response to treatment after every 4 weeks for up to 16 weeks.
Response to treatment may be delayed for some weeks.
Local inflammatory reactions are common. Temporary reduction in frequency and amount of imiquimod may facilitate resolution of a local reaction. Severe reactions may necessitate alternative treatments. Local inflammatory reactions include:
redness
irritation
induration
ulceration/erosions
vesicles
Not approved for use in pregnancy or for internal warts.
May weaken latex condoms and diaphragms.
May cause irritation to sexual partners and sex should be avoided immediately after application.
Efficacy rates around 50% and recurrence rates around 10-20 2%
Other treatment modalities
Referral for surgical removal, electrosurgery or laser therapy should be considered for the following:
warts resistant to standard treatment
extensive warts
warts in certain locations for example, rectal warts which haven’t resolved after treatment and resolution of external warts.
Treatment in pregnancy
Warts may worsen in pregnancy and resolve after delivery
Cryotherapy is the preferred method of treatment
Management of vaginal warts at the time of delivery should be discussed with the treating obstetrician
Patient education
The following points should be covered:
The nature of the infection
HPV is very common.Most people will become infected with genital types during their sexual life
Most infected people are asymptomatic with only a very small number developing visible warts
The oncogenic types (mostly 16 and 18) of HPV rarely cause visible genital warts
HPV infection is often present in the absence of genital warts
It is impossible to diagnose subclinical HPV infection clinically.
Side effects of treatment and their management.
If podophyllotoxin has been used, stress the need to return immediately if a severe reaction results from treatment
Follow up
Clinical assessment at one week, to assess response to therapy, and re-treatment as required.
Women with genital warts, or female partners of patients with genital warts should be encouraged to have regular Pap smears as recommended for women without warts.
These guidelines are based on review of current literature, current recommendations of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and local expert opinion.
They are written primarily for use by Adelaide Sexual
Health Centre staff and some flexibility is required in applying them to certain private practice situations.
Related information
You can search through to find related information.
Adelaide Sexual Health Centre provides free, confidential, specialist sexual health services. Get advice, testing and treatment for all sexually transmitted infections.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), genital warts & related cancers - including symptoms, treatment and prevention
Infection of the skin and mucous membranes caused by human papilloma viruses (HPV) - some wart viruses increase cancer risk
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