A cervical wart is a type of wart that forms on the skin of the cervix, vagina, rectum or other genital area. Also called genital warts, cervical warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). They are classified as a form of sexually transmitted disease (STD) because they are usually spread via sexual intercourse. While there is no cure for these warts, there are a number of treatments that can be used to remove them, some of which are outlined here.
Cryotherapy
Cervical warts may be removed using a medical procedure called cryotherapy. According to the Centers for Disease Control, this procedure involves freezing the abnormal wart cells with liquid nitrogen. The treatment may be repeated after one to two weeks as needed. Local anesthesia may be used if there are several warts or if the warts cover a large area.
Acid
A potent acid called trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is often used to "burn off" cervical warts. A small amount of this acid is applied to the surface of the wart and then allowed to dry. A white "frosting" develops on the wart once the acid dries, and it can be washed off two or more hours after application. This TCA treatment is repeated on a weekly basis as needed.
Podophyllin Resin
Another widely used treatment option is podophyllin resin. This is a topical chemical treatment that should only be administered by a trained health care professional. To remove warts with this treatment, a thin layer of podophyllin resin is applied to each wart and then allowed to air dry. The treatment is repeated weekly as needed. Failure to let the resin dry, or using too much of it, can cause a skin irritation.
LEEP
Another treatment option is Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP). This is a medical procedure involving electro-cautery, the application of a painless electrical current to the wart. This treatment option has the advantage of removing the warts in a single doctor's visit. It does, however, require extensive clinical training. Laser vaporization or surgical excision of the cervical warts may also be used.
Prescription Creams
Two topical creams are widely prescribed to treat cervical warts. These creams, Podofilox and Imiquimod, can be applied by the patient in the privacy of her home. Podofilox gets rid of warts by destroying the wart cell tissue, while Imiquimod works by boosting the immune system to help it fight off the virus.
Tags: treatment option, treatment repeated, cervical warts, medical procedure, podophyllin resin