Genital warts laser

Genital warts are a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This disease affects the genital area of both men and women. It may be interesting to know that this virus does not leave the human body. Therefore, it is very important to select the best treatment to prevent the recurrence of genital warts.

The genital warts laser is one of the definitive treatments for this disease. Although there are other methods for treating this disease, the treatment of genital warts using a high-power laser is a safe method with a very short recovery period.

Treatment of genital warts by laser

The best treatment of genital warts is to remove them using the high power laser. The genital warts laser is more commonly used for removing large warts. However, patients show greater interest in the laser removal of genital warts because of the ease and practicality of this method. In addition, the genital warts laser can be performed in a single session.

10 advantages of the genital warts laser

The genital warts laser is one of the most efficient and reliable treatments for this disease. Some of the advantages of this method are as follows:

• The genital warts laser is a method suitable for individuals with a weak immune system
• This method can remove all warts in the genital area in a single session
• The CO2 laser is much more efficient than the cryotherapy device
• This method minimizes the risk of warts recurrence
• The genital warts laser is an outpatient procedure that does not require anesthesia
• This method does not require long-term wound dressing and care
• The genital warts laser is an outpatient procedure with a very short recovery period. Patients can quickly return to their normal lives and workplaces.
• This method causes local and controllable complications
• This method leaves no wound or scar
• The data show that the genital warts laser has gained high patient satisfaction; about 90% of patients who underwent the genital warts laser were completely satisfied with the results.

Care after genital warts laser

You may feel slight irritation or pain in the affected area after the genital wart laser. It is also normal to feel a little tired and sick or have hot flashes. Some patients may notice a very small amount of blood or discharge on the first day after the treatment. Here are some tips that help you reduce the complications of the genital warts laser.

• Immediately go home after the treatment and avoid heavy physical activities for two days.
• Take the medications prescribed by your physician on time.
• Apply restorative creams or aloe vera spray to the affected area to facilitate wound healing.
• Keep the area dry and avoid going to the toilet at least four hours after the treatment.
• Keep the affected area cool using a cold compress or ice pack for the first 12 to 24 hours.
• Clean the affected area with a washing serum and then apply the prescribed medications to the area.

All complications will disappear after 3 to 7 days of post-treatment care. Nevertheless, if you have a fever or are unable to defecate after 6 hours, inform your physician of the case.

Women with genital warts need to receive a Pap smear test every year and men with this disease should be also examined regularly in order to take preventive measures in case of symptoms of cervical and genital cancer.

A comparison between genital warts laser and cryotherapy

There are different methods for removing genital warts. In a study on 106 patients with genital warts in two groups of laser treatment (CO2 laser) and cryotherapy, the results showed that the efficiency and success rate of the laser treatment were higher than those of cryotherapy. The complete removal of genital warts was observed in 95% of patients in the laser treatment group and only 37% of patients in the cryotherapy group. Moreover, the removal of genital warts took a single session in the laser treatment group but two or even three sessions in the cryotherapy group.

Genital wart vaccine injection after laser

Although it is recommended that all individuals inject an HPV vaccine, patients with genital warts can take this vaccine after the laser treatment. After the removal of genital warts, a sample of them is sent to a pathobiology laboratory to determine the type of genital warts. In some cases, this test may be done before the treatment.

Gardasil is an HPV vaccine currently available in Iran; this vaccine can protect you against four types of genital warts as follows: 16, 6, 11, and 8. If patients have one or more types of genital warts, they can inject the vaccine to protect themselves against other types.

Gardasil 9 is also available in some countries; this can protect individuals against 9 dangerous and semi-dangerous genomes of this disease.

Costs of genital warts laser

Several factors determine the cost of the genital warts laser, some of which are as follows:

• Size of genital warts
• Number of genital warts in an area
• Type of affected area and extent of genital warts
• Type of laser equipment and the place where the procedure is performed

Although the genital warts laser may be more expensive than conventional surgery, it produces better therapeutic results compared to conventional surgery. You are recommended to visit a laser surgery specialist to treat your genital warts in a reputable clinic or medical center. To get the desired therapeutic results, it is better to consult a specialist before selecting a treatment option.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the genital warts laser

1-Does the genital warts laser cause the spread of this disease?

Not at all, not only genital warts do not spread after the genital warts laser but also this treatment minimizes the risk of recurrence. Since the laser devices are equipped with a suction and ventilator, the stem resulting from the laser operation is quickly absorbed by the suction; so that it is not allowed to spread.

2-Is the genital warts laser a definitive treatment for this disease?

One of the main advantages of laser surgery is that it does not damage the healthy surrounding tissue. The treatments of genital warts may fail to eliminate the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); the virus may remain in the body in an inactive state after the laser removal of genital warts.

3-Is there a risk of recurrence of genital warts after laser treatment?

The genital warts laser is one of the best and most reliable treatments for genital warts. However, none of the treatments for genital warts can completely eliminate the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); therefore, there is always a risk of recurrence of genital warts.

4-How often may genital warts recur?

A study showed that genital warts recurred after 12 weeks, 6 months, and 3 years in 44%, 69%, and 2% of women, respectively.

5-Is any wart of genital type?

No, normal warts are different from genital warts. Although HPV is responsible for both genital and non-genital warts, different strains are causing each type of wart. In addition, they are different in the method of transmission.