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Discharge Instructions for Genital Warts

Genital warts are caused by the HPV virus. It is passed during sexual activity. Some warts may go away without treatment. Others may get worse. Medicine can help remove the warts. However, the virus stays in the skin. This means warts can come back.

Steps to Take

Medications

Medicine can be placed on the warts to wear them away. It can take several weeks for warts to clear. When taking this medicine:

  • Take your medicine as advised. Do not change the amount or schedule.
  • Be aware of the side effects of your medicine. Tell your doctor if you have any.

This medicine can weaken condoms. It can lead to a hole or break in condoms.

Other Steps That May Help

Do not have sex until warts are gone. Warts can spread to a partner. Condoms and other barriers may not protect against genital warts.

Talk to your sexual partner about the infection. They may need to be checked for the infection and treated as well.

Follow-up

Your doctor may need to check on your progress. Be sure to go to all advised appointments.

Problems to Look Out For

Call your doctor if you are having problems managing genital warts or you have:

  • Warts that do not go away
  • New warts or warts that get bigger
  • Any new symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

American Sexual Health Association
https://www.ashasexualhealth.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Sex Information & Education Council of Canada
http://www.sieccan.org

Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

REFERENCES:

Condyloma acuminatum. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/condyloma-acuminatum. Accessed August 18, 2021.

Genital HPV infection—fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm. Accessed August 18, 2021.

Genital warts. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/genital-warts/. Accessed August 18, 2021.

Human papillomavirus (HPV). EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Accessed August 18, 2021.

Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board David L. Horn, MD