Genital Warts Symptoms, Causes and Treatment in Singapore
by: Dr. Paul Chang, General Practitioner, Regis Medical
What are Genital Warts?
Genital warts are a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI). They appear as small, soft, flesh-coloured growths that occur on the skin and mucous membranes of the genital areas.
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Symptoms of Genital Warts
Genital warts can appear as the following:
- Grey or flesh-coloured growths in the genital or anal area
- Warts occurring as a cluster in the genital or anal area
Genital warts can also appear on the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, if the infection had occurred through oral sex. Genital warts can grow or spread, causing pain and discomfort.
Genital warts are not always visible. People infected with genital warts may experience the following symptoms even when they do not have any visible genital warts:
- Vaginal discharge
- Itching
- Bleeding
- Burning
Causes and Risk Factors of Genital Warts
Causes
Genital Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the most common type of STIs, with multiple different strains.
Genital warts can be spread via:
- Sexual intercourse, including anal, vaginal, and oral sex.
- Skin-to-skin contact between genitals
Risk Factors
Anyone who is sexually active are at risk of genital warts. In fact, most sexually active people will be infected with genital HPV at some point. However, there are factors that may increase your risk of infection, such as:
- Having unprotected sex
- Having multiple sexual partners
- Being immunocompromised, due to HIV, or certain drugs
- Having another STI
Treatment Methods for Genital Warts
Genital warts can sometimes go away on its own without any treatment if your body’s immune system is strong enough to fight off the infection causing it. Genital warts may cause discomfort if they begin to grow in size or spread.
There are several treatment methods for genital warts. During treatment, you should avoid sexual contact.
Treatment methods for genital warts include:
- Electrocautery. This uses an electric current to burn away warts.
- Freezing. Your healthcare provider uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy warts.
- Laser treatment. A laser light is used to destroy tiny blood vessels inside warts which cuts off their blood supply.
- Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). With LEEP, an electrically charged wire loop is used to remove warts.
- Topical (skin) medicine. Once a week for multiple weeks, a prescription chemical solution or cream is applied to your warts. The medicine causes blisters to form under the warts which stops blood flow. In some cases, your provider may apply the chemical solution at their office. There are also prescription creams your provider will prescribe that you can use at home.
- Surgery. Warts that are large or do not respond to other treatments can be surgically removed.
Do note that removing genital warts does not mean that you are cured from HPV. Even after your warts have been removed, you can still spread HPV to others. In addition, since there is no cure for HPV, you may get warts again after removing your current ones.
Preventing Genital Warts
There are a few preventive steps that you can take to reduce your risk of getting genital warts. In addition, for females, regular HPV screening and pap smear tests are recommended due to the associated risks with cervical cancer.
HPV Vaccination
Certain HPV strains can cause genital warts to develop. HPV is a very common STI and anyone can get infected as long as they are sexually active. Fortunately, there is are vaccines for certain strains of HPV, which will prevent you from being infected with these HPV subtypes. These vaccines protect against cancer-causing HPV strains, as well as the strains that cause genital warts. Even if you already have genital warts, you may still want to take the HPV vaccines as they can protect against cancer-causing HPV strains that you may not have been infected by.
The HPV vaccines Cervarix and Gardasil 9 are clinically approved in Singapore. Cervarix is used for females only while Gardasil 9 can be used for both males and females. The vaccines are recommended for males and females aged 9 to 26 years old. HPV vaccination for females are included in the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) and National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS). For males, and females above the age of 26 years old who have not been vaccinated, you may wish to consult doctor who will assess your suitability for the vaccine before prescribing the vaccine.
HPV Screening
It is recommended that women who are 30 to 65 screen for HPV at least once every five years as long as they have had sex. Screening for HPV can help to detect precancerous cervical cell changes, or even detect cervical cancer. Early detection is crucial for treatment to be effective, which can also help to prevent genital warts from developing.
Pap Smear
The pap smear test also tests for cervical cancer. It is recommended that women aged 25 and above who have had sex take the pap smear test once every 3 years. Similar to HPV screening, regular pap smear tests can help to detect early signs of cervical cancer.
Consulting a Doctor Regarding Your Condition
Genital warts may be a stressful condition for many. It is ideal to seek treatment early, especially if the condition causes discomfort. In addition, genital warts are a sign of HPV, which can be transmitted to your sexual partner/s. It is important to get screened and diagnosed if you do have genital warts so you can protect your sexual partner/s. There is nothing shameful or embarrassing to discuss such concerns and worries with a doctor. Seeking medical advice from a trusted healthcare provider is crucial to reducing the risks of complications and increasing the chance of successful treatment.
Prevent and Manage Genital Warts with Regis Medical
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“Genital Warts.” Genital Warts - Symptoms and Causes - Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic, 14 Jan. 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/genital-warts/symptoms-causes/syc-20355234.
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Preventing HPV Infection: HPV Vaccination, HealthHub, 13 Sept. 2022, https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/701/faqs-on-hpv-and-hpv-immunisation.
“What Should I Know About Screening?” What Should I Know About Cervical Cancer Screening? | CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 Dec. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm
