What are Genital Warts?

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This infection spreads through vaginal, oral and anal sex. It is one of the most commonly found sexually transmitted infections that has a tendency of recurring until the root cause is treated. According to doctors, sexually active people mostly get in contact with this STI at some point if they do not take precautions. Also, people who have low immunity power catch this infection easily.

HPV affects both men and women, but according to facts, women are more prone to genital warts. Genital warts cause more complications in women by increasing the chances of developing cervical and vulvar cancer. The infection can also spread to the baby in case of vaginal delivery of an infected mother. The infected newborn exhibits complications like warts in and around the mouth, on hands, thighs, and legs. Therefore, to keep these complicated situations at bay, get in touch with a specialist doctor whenever you notice the symptoms of genital warts. (Also Read: Rashes In The Vagina? Know its Causes and Proper Treatment )

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Let’s take a quick glance at the identifying symptoms of genital warts in the following section

How to identify genital warts?

Common symptoms of genital warts in male:

Protuberance or warts appearing on the penis, scrotum, anus, and thighs

Common symptoms of genital warts in female:

Warts or protuberance appearing in and around the vagina or even the anus
Warts near the lips in case of infection through oral sex

The symptoms common to both the sexes are:

Itching and discomfort in the genital area
Bleeding during sexual intercourse
Swelling around the genitalia and the anal region

The symptoms of genital warts may take many weeks or even months to show. It is necessary to get immediate medical attention as soon as the symptoms appear.

If you leave HPV untreated, it can lead to the following complications:

Cervical cancer
Penile cancer
Cancer of mouth and throat
HPV transferred to the baby during vaginal delivery

Diagnosis and treatment for genital warts

It is not wise to leave the symptoms of genital warts unattended as there are many risks associated with it. Leaving genital warts unattended will only make it worse and painful. Therefore, seek medical help for proper diagnosis and treatment of genital warts.

To diagnose the condition, the doctor physically examines the wart infected genital area and inquires about sexual history. It is only in the rare and severe conditions that the doctor asks for a biopsy.

Even when the outbreaks of warts get cured, the human papillomavirus still resides in the body. Take all the precautionary steps advised by the doctor along with proper medications to get relief. In some cases, doctors even advise minor surgical treatment to remove genital warts from the body. There is no harm in undergoing surgical treatment for genital warts, as medical advances have made it safer and convenient. Laser treatment is the most advanced one to remove genital warts and it offers speedy recovery to the patient.

Home Remedies for Genital Warts

Home remedies play a crucial role in providing symptomatic relief in genital warts. You can take the help of home remedies when you experience the symptoms of genital warts coming up.

There is no harm in opting for the following home remedies for genital warts:

Tea-tree oil- The anti-microbial properties of tea tree oil can be quite effective. You can first apply tea tree oil on the arm to check for any allergic reactions. Only if you are sure there will be no reaction, apply the tea tree oil by diluting it with coconut oil for soothing effects on genital warts.
Apple-cider vinegar– Apply apple cider vinegar with the help of cotton on genital warts affected skin. Apple cider vinegar helps in reducing warts and killing the virus in the genital area. Use apple cider vinegar for effective relief from the discomfort and itching due to apple cider vinegar.

Consume vitamin B12 and folic acid– A person becomes more prone to human papillomavirus if they have low levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid in the body. You can take Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements to enable the body to get fast relief from genital warts.
Banana peel- Banana is enriched in potassium that is considered to have antiviral effects. You can use the inside the banana peel to rub on genital warts. Doing so will prevent genital warts from getting worse.
Coconut oil– Coconut oil has wonderful soothing and cooling effects on the irritated skin. Thus, you can use coconut oil directly on the warted affected skin. It will give you major relief from the burning sensation due to genital warts.
Dandelion extract- Dandelion is quite popular for its various medicinal uses. You can use dandelion extract for genital warts as it has soothing effects on the inflamed skin. It also eases out the irritation and dries out warts.
Castor oil– Castor oil is a very effective remedy to treat numerous skin conditions. The anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil prove very beneficial in curing genital warts as well.
Foods to boost resistance to infection– Incorporate foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins, especially vitamin C and E. Thus you should totally have berries, tomatoes, bell peppers, avocados, etc in your daily diet. Also, have lots of green leafy vegetables, nuts, and whole grains to build a stronger immune system. This will prevent genital warts from spreading faster. Avoid eating processed food and quit smoking to prevent the genital infection from getting worse.
Garlic– You can either apply the garlic juice from the freshly crushed garlic or buy the extract. Garlic extract has antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties, thus a potential remedy to cure genital warts. Use a drop or two of the garlic extract, mix it with coconut oil and apply on genital warts. Garlic aids in quickly clearing up warts and shows fast relief.

These are the most effective and safest home remedies that will surely help you in getting rid of genital warts. All you need to do is, wisely follow these home remedies and discuss everything with the doctor before using it. It is necessary to keep your doctor updated with every step you take so that nothing goes wrong during the treatment.

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