Genital warts can be a real concern, especially when they are incredibly painful. These warts develop from being infected with specific strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and can grow on your penis, cervix or near the anus. While some outbreaks of genital warts can feel perfectly normal, others can feel torturous and incredibly painful. Thankfully, there are a few methods that can be used to get rid of genital warts in Singapore, depending on the severity of the outbreak and the amount of pain that is experienced. Before you think about which method may be right for your situation, we highly recommend first visiting a genital warts clinic and speaking to a doctor, who would be able to advise you on the best treatment option for your situation. Here are two possible methods that the doctor may advise to help get rid of your genital warts.

Topical medications for warts

The most common treatment available at all STD clinics in Singapore is the topical medication. There are many different topical medications available in the market that treat genital warts. However, they all need a doctor’s prescription. You should not use an over-the-counter medicine on genital warts as they are often intended for other types of warts and may cause unwanted side effects when used near the genitalia. Some common brands of genital wart medications include:

• Aldara/Zyclara, which boosts the body’s immune system to aid in the battle against genital warts
• Trichloroacetic acid, which is a chemical treatment that burns off genital warts
• Podophyllin, a medication that destroys genital wart tissue. Do note that only a doctor should apply Podophyllin; you should not be using it at home.

The appropriate use of these medicines will vary depending on the severity of your genital warts and where they appear. Because these topical medications are applied to the skin, it may take more time for the body to ward off genital warts.

Surgical removal of genital warts

Doctors would recommend topical medications for most cases of genital warts. However, it is possible that these warts do not respond to medications, or they are too large and painful. That is when doctors may recommend surgical removal of genital warts instead.

One common surgical procedure for wart removal is known as cryotherapy. With this method, warts are frozen with liquid nitrogen, causing blisters near the wart. Over time, the blisters slough off, revealing new skin beneath and removing parts of the wart. It may take multiple cryotherapy sessions before the warts are fully removed.

Another possible surgical procedure is called surgical excision. Much like typical surgery, you would need to undergo general or local anaesthesia so the doctor can cut off warts using special tools. As with all surgical procedures, there is likely to be lingering pain afterwards.

Conclusion

While genital warts are painful, there are many possible ways that your doctor can help you treat it! Take these tips with you the next time you see the doctor, and you’ll be much more aware of the treatment options available to you.