How To Get Rid Of Genital Warts – 5 Home Remedies + Prevention Tips

Genital warts are all too common these days, and they are so slow-growing that you don’t even know how or from whom you contracted them. But don’t be too alarmed, we’ll give you a handful of ways to eliminate them or get them under control.
What causes these warts? And what can you do to get rid of them naturally? Find the answers to your questions and worries in this post. Continue reading.

Table Of Contents

• What Are Genital Warts?
• Signs And Symptoms
• Causes And Risk Factors
• 5 Home Remedies For Genital Warts
• How To Prevent Genital Warts

What Are Genital Warts?

Genital warts are soft warts that appear on your genitals that can cause pain, discomfort, and itching. The warts are sexually transmitted and caused by some strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV infections are the most common of all the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Both men and women who are sexually active are vulnerable to the complications of HPV, like in the case of genital warts. HPV infections are especially threatening for women because some types can cause cancer of the cervix and vulva.
Note: STD is the most commonly used term for the collection of medical infections that are transmitted through sexual contact. However, STI is a sexually transmitted infection that may or may not develop into a full-blown STD.

Genital warts can be transmitted from one individual to another through sexual activities that involve skin-to-skin contact. These warts may also occur in other parts of the body that have been in contact with an affected area.
Such warts are not always visible to the human eye and even though they may be very small they are still infectious. The tops of such warts are usually smooth and slightly bumpy, giving them a cauliflower appearance.
The common signs and symptoms associated with genital warts are discussed below.

Signs And Symptoms

Genital warts can occur in clusters or as a single wart.
In females, genital warts most commonly occur:

• In the vagina or anus
• In the area outside the vagina or anus
• On the cervix

In males, the warts usually appear on the:

• Penis
• Scrotum
• Thighs
• Groin
• Inside or in the area around the anus

Other than the appearance of warts, other symptoms that are noticed in the affected individuals are:

• Discharge from the vagina
• Bleeding
• Burning
• Itching

In some cases, genital warts can also spread and become enlarged. This may cause discomfort and also turn out to be quite painful.
Sometimes, such warts may also appear on the lips, mouth, throat, or tongue of those who have had oral sexual contact with an infected person.
Let us now look into the factors known to cause or increase your risk of developing genital warts.

Causes And Risk Factors

Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus virus (HPV). While there are 30-40 HPV strains known to affect the genitals, just a few of them actually cause genital warts.
HPV infections are highly contagious and can be easily transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. This is why they are considered to be sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). But, the human papillomavirus does not always lead to genital warts. In most cases, it’s an STI, and the virus goes away on its own without causing any significant health problems or complications.
It is also important to note that the HPV strains that cause genital warts are different from those that cause warts in other body parts. Also, warts cannot spread from an infected individual’s genitals to their hands or vice versa.
Some factors may also increase your risk of developing genital warts. They are:

• Age – Younger adults below 30 years of age are at a higher risk.
• Smoking tobacco
• Weak immune system
• A history of child abuse
• An infected mother – Mothers can pass the virus to their children during childbirth or breastfeeding.

If you have genital warts and want to work with some natural ways to get rid of them, here are some home remedies that may help.

5 Home Remedies For Genital Warts

1. Tea Tree Oil
2. Garlic
3. Green Tea Extract
4. Aloe Vera
5. Vitamins

Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Genital Warts

1. Tea Tree Oil

 

You Will Need

• 3 drops of tea tree oil
• 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
• Cotton swabs

What You Have To Do

1. Add only three drops of tea tree oil to two teaspoons of coconut oil.
2. Mix well and apply to the affected area using a cotton swab.
3. Discard the swab.
4. Leave the mixture on overnight.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this one time daily.

Why This Work

Tea tree oil possesses antiviral properties. It was found to be effective in treating hand warts in a pediatric patient (1). Therefore, it may also help in treating genital warts.

Caution

Consult a doctor before you use tea tree oil as it can burn the skin.

2. Garlic

 

You Will Need

• 2-3 garlic cloves
• Cotton swabs

What You Have To Do

1. Smash the garlic cloves to make a paste.
2. Using a cotton swab, apply the mixture to the warts.
3. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this once daily.

Why This Work

Garlic possesses antiviral activities that can help inhibit the proliferation of virus-infected cells that leads to the development of warts, such as genital warts (2).
Caution
Garlic can also burn the skin, so be ready to remove the garlic mash before the time is up if the area starts to burn.

3. Green Tea Extract

 

You Will Need

Used green tea bags

What You Have To Do

1. Put some used green tea bags aside and allow them to cool.
2. Apply the tea bag to the affected area and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
3. Remove the tea bag and rinse the area with water.
4. Discard the tea bag once you have used it.
5. You can also buy any over-the-counter biological ointment that contains green tea extract for this purpose.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this once daily.

Why This Work

Green tea extract contains catechins like polyphenon E that are found to be effective in the treatment of genital warts (3).

4. Aloe Vera

 

You Will Need

• 1-2 teaspoons of freshly extracted aloe vera gel
• Cotton swabs

What You Have To Do

1. Take some aloe gel on a cotton swab.
2. Apply it to the warts.
3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Work

Aloe vera contains the antiviral malic acid (4). Malic acid is used in many formulations to treat recurring warts (5). Therefore, topical application of aloe vera may also be effective in treating genital warts.

5. Vitamins

Topical formulations that contain certain vitamins can also help in getting rid of genital warts.
A topical vitamin D3 derivate was found to be helpful in treating anogenital warts (6). Vitamin A was found to be effective when applied topically to common warts (7).
Oral vitamins that have been researched in the treatment of genital warts include Vitamin A, methylated folate, and methylated Vitamin B 12. Vitamin A, topical and oral, is the most well researched remedy for genital warts.
Note: It is best to consult a doctor before using these topical formulations.
Here are some additional tips that can help prevent further outbreaks. These tips may also help prevent the infection in those who have never had an HPV infection.
Note: If you wish to combine these remedies, it is best to use one that has a tendency to burn (like tea tree oil or garlic) with a soothing remedy (like aloe or vitamin creams).

How To Prevent Genital Warts

• Use a latex condom or dental dam before any kind of sexual contact.
• Avoid having multiple sexual partners.
• Make sure that your sexual partner is not suffering from genital warts.
• Avoid using utensils that may have come in contact with an infectious wart.

Note: A dental dam is a thin, flexible piece of latex that can protect against direct mouth-to-genital or mouth-to-anus contact during oral sex.
If you have developed genital warts, do not take it casually. Remember that leaving these warts untreated can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, like cervical cancer. If the remedies mentioned here do not help in getting rid of the warts, see a doctor immediately to get appropriate medical guidance.

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