Do I have to have my genital warts removed by surgery?

Q: Do I have to have my genital warts removed by surgery?

A: No. In fact, you may not need to have them removed at all. Genital warts are caused by some varieties of a sexually transmitted virus called HPV, human papilloma virus. In many cases, the warts create no other symptoms or problems and they often disappear on their own, without treatment, in a matter of months. This is why some doctors these days are recommending no treatment.

However, you may want to consider treatment for warts that are large or causing discomfort. You should understand, though, that they sometimes grow back afterward. Surgery is one option, but usually the first treatment choice is a cream or lotion that's applied directly to the warts. If that doesn't work, the next step may be cryotherapy -- freezing the wart. Surgery, laser surgery or electrocautery (burning it off) would be used if the other therapies failed.

Two warnings on the topic of genital warts: First, HPV is often transmitted along with other, more serious sexually transmitted diseases, ! so get tested if you haven't been already. Second, talk with your doctor about what you can do to keep from spreading the virus to others. HPV is highly contagious through skin-on-skin contact.

Nancy Snyderman, M.D., F.A.C.S

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