In men, the penis, and in women, the vagina, vulva, and cervix are genital organs. Warts in the groin and pubic areas are also classified under this category. The presence of warts in these areas is referred to as genital warts, or in Turkish, “cinsel organ siğili.” It is also known by the following names:
- HPV (human papillomavirus)
- Wart
- Condyloma
- Condyloma acuminatum
They all refer to the same condition.
Why Do Warts Form on the Genitals?
The primary cause of the condition is a virus, which only causes disease in humans. The only way it spreads is through contact with another person.
Naturally, the first thought is sexual intercourse. However, contrary to this belief, it can also be seen in individuals who have not engaged in sexual intercourse, including children. Scientific studies have shown that the virus can be present on objects and can be transmitted through shared items.
Shared items that can facilitate transmission include toilet seats, bidet taps, sink faucets, laser heads used in hair removal, underwear, and similar shared items.
What Are the Methods Used for Treating Genital Warts?
Many methods are used in treatment:
- Medication
- Radio Frequency
- Laser
- Cauterization
- Cryotherapy
- Surgery
Genital Wart Medication
The most commonly used medications contain catechins (1). There are three ointments containing catechins: Venerex Ointment (Turkey), Veregreen Ointment (EU), and Veregen Ointment (USA).
In the early stages of the wart, Venerex ointment can be used alone, but in advanced cases, it is used two weeks after other burning procedures to shorten the treatment process. Another effect of using Venerex is to prevent the recurrence of the disease.
Another substance used is imiquimod, which is not preferred much because it causes irritation.
Burning Warts
Many methods are used, with the common feature of burning the condylomas.
Cauterization, radio frequency (1), cryotherapy, and laser.
Apart from burning, they can also be removed surgically by cutting.
Are Genital Warts Dangerous?
All warts have high or low risks. For women, there is a very high risk. Scientific studies have shown that they can cause penile cancer in men, but penile cancer is a very rare type of cancer. In contrast, the only known cause of cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women, is HPV, or warts.
Cervical cancer can be prevented by vaccination, but if the disease develops without vaccination, the risk persists for life. Therefore, even if a woman with genital warts gets rid of them, the risk of cervical cancer does not disappear. Since the risk continues, regular check-ups should be done according to the gynecologist’s recommendations, and smears should be taken when necessary to detect cervical cancer early.
Post-Treatment Care for Genital Warts
There are two important aspects of care:
- Healing the wound that forms
- Preventing the recurrence of the disease
Wound Care After Burning Warts
The procedure results in an open wound, the extent of which varies according to the prevalence of the disease. Open wounds tend to become infected by external bacteria. If the disease is widespread, this infected wound can be quite large. The most commonly prescribed medication is Kutalin Cream, which contains dexpanthenol, triticum vulgare, hamamelis virginiana, the antiseptic chlorhexidine digluconate, zinc oxide, and Suncat MTA to prevent scarring. It significantly shortens the healing process.
How to Prevent Recurrence After Wart Treatment?
In treatment, only warts that are large enough to be seen can be treated, while those that are too small to be seen remain and start growing in the following days. This does not actually indicate a recurrence, but rather shows that a second session is needed. To eliminate these small warts and reduce the need for a second session, Venerex Ointment containing catechins should be used. The catechins in Venerex Ointment have antiviral effects (3) and, in addition to this effect, they prevent the regrowth of warts by inhibiting cell division and stimulating immunity.
Do Genital Warts Recur?
If the treatment is done correctly and completely, recurrence is generally not seen. If not all warts are burned during the treatment, if post-treatment care is not done well, or if antiviral ointment is not used, the remaining virus can cause recurrence. In this case, a second session should be conducted. When starting treatment at the clinic, post-treatment follow-up should be discussed in detail. There should be no charges for a certain number of additional sessions. Charging for each session can delay the patient’s follow-up and cause the disease to progress again.
How to Prevent HPV Recurrence?
To prevent recurrence, one of the ointments containing catechins (2) such as Venerex Ointment, Veregreen Ointment, or Veregen Ointment must be used.
After the treatment is completed, HPV will eventually be completely eliminated from the body, and the disease will not recur unless a different type of virus is contracted from another person.
To avoid contracting it from someone else again, hygiene should be maintained, condoms should be used, and people in risk groups (those with low immunity such as organ transplant recipients, those who frequently change partners, sex workers) should get vaccinated with the vaccine that provides protection against 9 types of HPV.
Effects of Venerex Ointment
- Prevents the proliferation of the virus
- Stops the growth of the wart by inhibiting cell division
- Activates immune mechanisms to eliminate the wart
- Has an antibacterial effect to prevent wound infection
Can HPV Be Eliminated from the Body?
Unfortunately, there is a lot of widespread misinformation on this topic on the internet. Even doctors who are not well-versed in the subject contribute to this misinformation.
Yes, HPV can be completely eliminated from the body. While the affected area is being treated and afterward, the body’s immune system creates substances that completely eradicate the virus. The key here is reducing the viral load in the body. The purpose of burning visible warts and using ointments that eliminate HPV is to reduce the viral load. When the viral load is reduced, the body’s immune system can completely eliminate it.
How Long Does It Take for HPV to Be Eliminated from the Body?
Scientific studies have shown that the virus is eliminated within 18 to 36 months. This duration is approximately the same for both men and women.
Ointments containing catechins (Venerex, Veregen, Veregreen) shorten this period by stimulating the immune system.
Similarly, vaccines that stimulate the immune system are also effective in eliminating the virus from the body. It is important that the type of virus in the body matches the type in the vaccine.
1- Wiley, D. J., Douglas, J., Beutner, K., Cox, T., Fife, K., Moscicki, A. B., & Fukumoto, L. (2002). External genital warts: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 35(Supplement_2), S210-S224.
2- Stockfleth, E., Beti, H., Orasan, R., Grigorian, F., Mescheder, A., Tawfik, H., & Thielert, C. (2008). Topical Polyphenon® E in the treatment of external genital and perianal warts: a randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Dermatology, 158(6), 1329-1338.
3- Tyring, S. K. (2012). Effect of sinecatechins on HPV-activated cell growth and induction of apoptosis. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 5(2), 34.