It’s very common to come into contact with HPV, the cause of genital warts. Luckily outbreaks can be treated. Get started with a private online medical consultation with Dr. B.*Prescription treatment requires a virtual medical consultation with a medical provider to determine if a prescription is appropriate.
Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection. They can present as small flesh-colored brown or pink swellings in your genital area, as well as cauliflower-like clusters (caused by several warts close together).
Genital warts are caused by different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Most people will become infected with a strain of HPV at some point in their lives through skin-to-skin contact. Although HPV is known to clear up on its own after two years, in the cases where it does not, it can cause warts and other conditions.
While it is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), genital warts are sometimes passed through non-sexual skin-to-skin contact, such as through birth, where the child can be exposed to the virus.
The human papillomavirus is the most common STI, and there are millions of new cases each year. HPV changes the cell cycle, allowing it to escape the body’s immune response while letting it alter how cells grow and reproduce. This is how genital warts and other conditions, such as cervical cancer, develop.
Getting the HPV vaccine (Gardasil-9 as of 2016) is your safest bet to protect yourself from infection. It’s normally recommended that people get vaccinated before they become sexually active, as the vaccination process requires 3 spaced doses that require a total of 6 months before attaining full immunity. Gardasil-9 protects against 9 of the most common forms of HPV.
Some risk factors include: having intercourse with a partner whose sexual history is unknown to you, a suppressed immune system (which can increase risk of treatment resistance) and smoking.
There are topical treatments, such as: Imiquimod, Veregen, Podofilox, Condylox and Sinecatechins. Each of these treatments focuses on killing diseased cells in order to remove skin growths and contain a genital warts outbreak.
A small amount of the topical cream or ointment should be applied to the affected area once to multiple times a day or as directed by your medical provider.
Common side effects may include: itching, burning, swelling, pain or reddening of the skin. These symptoms are typically mild and may diminish over time. Talk to your medical provider if they last or continue to worsen over time.
Consultation: A virtual medical consultation for genital warts costs $15.00, which is lower than most doctor co-pays. Currently we don’t submit medical consultation claims to insurance companies, but you can use insurance for any resulting prescriptions at your pharmacy.
Medication: Dr. B only charges for the medical consultation. When medications are prescribed, we enable you to choose the most affordable or convenient pharmacy to get the prescription filled. Prices for your medication will vary depending on your insurance coverage and whether the drug is a brand or generic.
At this time we don’t submit medical consultation claims to insurance companies, but you can use insurance for any resulting prescriptions at your pharmacy.
We’ll send you a reminder for an online assessment when it’s time for your next refill.
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