Having vaginal warts is a very difficult circumstance. This is about vaginal warts treatment. Even more so in that there must possibly (probably) be two courses of action taken for total treatment of vaginal warts because they can appear internally as well as externally. Inside and outside the vaginal there can be vaginal warts (HPV) and therefore the need to treat vaginal warts at each site appropriately.
The time it will take to eventually destroy lesions and/or for the individual to compile enough antibodies to combat and suppress vaginal warts is unpredictable. Vaginal wart treatments can be different at each site where there are lesions and each person reacts differently to each treatment. There is some information published that states “your doctor will decide the best way to treat each site of vaginal warts” however, I want to encourage you to feel free to discuss your Individual Treatment Options (ITO) with your health care physician and do not be afraid to give your input.
Whatever the decision that is made by you and your physician you must follow it through. This is a course of treatment, not just one treatment and the invaders are gone. Sometimes this is the case but not the norm. Do not skip treatments or think too soon that you are lesion free. The information in this article is coming from one who has walked the road, felt the pain, and received various treatments because she is one who lives with having had vaginal wart treatments and carries the virus to this day.
As women we are creatures possessing internal and external sex organs, where a man’s sexual organs are pretty much external, however men do get their share of genital warts. Vaginal wart treatments must then also be internal and external.
Vaginal warts thrive in the soft fleshy inner workings of women. If that isn’t enough, the vaginal warts can be clinical meaning there are visible symptoms present or sub clinical meaning the vaginal warts are there but presenting no outward signs or symptoms. So it is impossible for the doctors to see every lesion as they are providing treatments. As of recent there has been controversy regarding the treatment of sub clinical vaginal warts and this can be decided best by the patient being very honest with the physician (no matter what!) so that the complete medical and lifestyle history of the patient is considered in treatment.
The stage of the vaginal warts must also be taken into consideration. If the patient has had the vaginal warts for a while leaving them untreated and there are multiple lesions, the treatment will be more aggressive than if the patient only has few visible lesions, has had limited sex partners or has used condoms and protection to their fullest extent. It is also the structure of vaginal warts that varies the rate of success in vaginal wart treatments. The surrounding tissue may be involved and infected making recurrences of vaginal warts fairly high and they must be treated quickly, appropriately and sometimes multiple times. While some vaginal warts are being treated – others could be developing.
This is another reason for discussing ITO’s (Individual Treatment Options) and having a good doctor/patient relationship with both of you committed to doing what it takes to get through the tough times in dealing with vaginal warts. Not all vaginal wart treatments work for all individuals and this can be truly frustrating for the physician as well as the patient. Attempt to be patient during treatments for vaginal warts, be honest with your health and lifestyle history, be thorough in checking yourself between each treatment for vaginal warts and treat each new lesion quickly.
Treatments for vaginal warts can range from a simple office visit for a topically applied chemical to actual surgery along with a D&C for good measure. Some vaginal wart treatments can be applied by the patient in the privacy of their homes but some are strictly office or hospital procedures. The following information on vaginal wart treatments is a good first defense unless your case is very serious.
The following is a short overview of treatments beginning with the ones that are self-applied. These are:
Podophyllotoxin solution - (brand name: Condyline) – this solution destroys the affected areas that it is applied to causing the vaginal warts to shrink or disappear. Podophyllotoxin is not to be used during pregnancy or on any warts that are quite large.
Imiquimod – (brand name: Aldara) – this comes in a cream form and enhances the body’s own immune response to fight the infection (HPV) of vaginal warts. Imiquimod is also not currently recommended for use during pregnancy.
The treatments that must be received in a doctor’s office or possibly out-patient are:
Cryotherapy – this vaginal wart treatment is done by applying liquid nitrogen to each lesion and is considered the best treatment during pregnancy.
Podophyllin resin – this formulation includes a number of different agents, including the above-mentioned podophyllotoxin for at home use. The way that podophyllin resin is prepared varies greatly in the concentration of the active components and has a limited shelf life. It is not at all for use in pregnant women.
Trichloroacetic acid - (TCA) – this is a caustic agent and must be applied carefully to vaginal warts avoiding any other area than that which may be infected. As it implies – it is acid.
Laser Treatment – this treatment for vaginal warts uses the beam of a laser to produce intense heat when focused at close range and is used to vaporize infected tissue.
Cautery - is another method to treat vaginal warts. Cautery is a method used to stop bleeding through the application of heat or a chemical substance. Cautery burns off the vaginal wart.
There is a following article entitled “Vaginal Wart Treatments – An In Depth Look At Individual Treatment Options” and there, each treatment for vaginal warts is discussed to the fullest. Again, this over view is meant as first line defense for treatment of vaginal warts. If your case is more serious the treatment options for these cases may involve hospitalization.
Education may assist us in living with vaginal warts and time enables our bodies to fight and suppress the virus more successfully. Thankfully – a vaccine is being searched for that may one day eliminate the need for vaginal wart treatments all together.