Genital warts: symptoms and treatments

Painting with podophyllotoxin: Those that are soft and non-keratinised are usually painted with a solution or cream containing podophyllotoxin (a cytotoxic substance that literally kills wart-infected cells). Podophyllotoxin can be used as a home-based treatment - you apply the dilute solution or cream twice daily for three days per week over a maximum of five weeks before being re-assessed. Podophyllotoxin and podophyllin must not be used during pregnancy, as they may be absorbed to cause developmental abnormalities.

Trichloro-acetic acid: Some clinics occasionally treat warts with a caustic substance - trichloro-acetic acid (TCA) - on a weekly basis. This strong acid coagulates wart cells and usually works quickly. It can lead to ulceration of surrounding skin so is now less frequently used.

Freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy): Treats warts by disrupting and killing cells through repeated freezing then thawing. Several sessions are usually needed before the warts disappear.

Genital warts link to cervical cancer
One or two of the sixty plus wart viruses are associated with an increased risk of developing genital cancers, including cervical cancer. The viruses linked with cervical cancer do not seem to cause visible warts. Therefore, women who have had visible warts are no more likely to develop cervical cancer than people without visible warts.

As a result, women with warts do not usually need to have more frequent cervical smears than women without warts, although this used to be recommended. You only need to attend routine smears according to the usual screening programme, although you may be advised to have regular cervical smears if certain changes are found that need to be checked more regularly.

If you're worried you have an STI or want to find out more, check out the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments for:

• Chlamydia
• Genital herpes (HSV)
• Gonorrhoea
• HIV and AIDS
• Pubic lice
• Scabies
• Syphilis
• Trichomonas