Which Doctor Should You See for Genital Warts?

Which Doctor Should I See for Genital Warts?

Genital Warts are a common health problem that can occur in the genital area in both women and men, caused by the HPV virus. Many people may delay treatment due to embarrassment or have doubts about which doctor to consult when faced with this condition. However, early diagnosis and proper treatment approach are extremely important both for preventing complications and reducing the risk of transmission to others. In this article, we will discuss Genital Warts symptoms, causes, which specialists to consult, and treatment options separately for both women and men.

Genital Warts Symptoms

Genital Warts symptoms may show some differences between women and men. Since the areas where lesions appear vary by gender, the recognition of symptoms can also occur in different ways.

Genital Warts Symptoms in Women

In women, Genital Warts typically appear in the vulva area, at the vaginal entrance, inside the vagina, on the cervix, around the anus, or in the groin area. Small, flesh-colored, pink, or whitish protrusions are the most prominent finding. These lesions can occur singly or in clustered groups and may sometimes take on a cauliflower-like appearance.

Other symptoms seen in women include itching, burning sensation, or discomfort in the genital area. Pain, discomfort, or slight bleeding may occur during or after sexual intercourse. An increase in vaginal discharge or changes in odor can be observed in some women. Burning or discomfort during urination may occur especially if the warts are near the urethra. Warts that form on the cervix are usually asymptomatic and are only detected during gynecological examination.

Genital Warts Symptoms in Men

In men, Genital Warts can appear on the head of the penis, penis shaft, scrotum (testicular sac), around the anus, in the groin area, or inside the urethra. Small, raised, flesh-colored or reddish lesions on the penis are the most common finding.

Other symptoms seen in men include itching, mild pain, or tenderness in the genital area. In uncircumcised men, warts can form under the prepuce (foreskin) and may be difficult to notice. Discomfort or slight bleeding during sexual intercourse can be seen in some men. If warts are present inside the urethra, burning during urination, discharge, or changes in urine flow may occur. Warts in the anal area may cause discomfort during bowel movements.

In both genders, HPV infection may sometimes show no symptoms, and the person can transmit the virus to their partner without being aware they are infected. Therefore, regular check-ups and the use of protective measures are of great importance.

Why Do Genital Warts Occur?

The main factor responsible for the formation of Genital Warts is the HPV virus. There are more than 100 different types in the Human Papillomavirus family, and approximately 40 of them can affect the genital area. Specifically, HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90 percent of Genital Warts.

How Does HPV Virus Spread?

The HPV virus primarily spreads through sexual contact. The virus can easily pass from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Transmission is possible even without penetrative sexual intercourse, just through skin contact between genital areas. In very rare cases, indirect transmission through contaminated towels, underwear, or toilets may occur, but this is quite rare.

Conditions That Increase Risk Factors

Some conditions increase the risk of developing Genital Warts for both women and men. Having multiple sexual partners significantly increases the risk of transmission. Starting sexual activity at an early age increases risk due to an underdeveloped immune system. In people with weak immune systems (HIV patients, organ transplant recipients, those using immunosuppressive drugs), HPV infection develops more easily.

Smoking weakens the immune system, reducing defense against HPV infection. Factors such as stress, inadequate nutrition, and lack of sleep also negatively affect the immune system. Having previously had another sexually transmitted disease is a risk factor. In women, pregnancy can cause existing Genital Warts to grow or new warts to appear due to hormonal changes and changes in the immune system.

In men, being uncircumcised can create a more conducive environment for HPV infection due to moisture and bacterial accumulation under the prepuce. However, being circumcised does not provide complete protection; it can only slightly reduce the risk.

Which Doctor Should I See for Genital Warts?

Which doctor people with suspected Genital Warts should consult may vary depending on both gender and the area where the lesions are located.

Which Doctor for Women?

Women should primarily consult an obstetrician-gynecologist (gynecologist) in case of suspected Genital Warts. Gynecologists are the specialists most familiar with the anatomy and diseases of the female genital area. They are experienced in diagnosing and treating warts in the vulva, vagina, and cervix areas. They can detect even small lesions with advanced imaging methods such as colposcopy. They can perform HPV tests and smear screening tests.

At modern healthcare centers like Estepera Polyclinic, experienced gynecologists evaluate female patients’ Genital Warts problems with attention to privacy and apply the most appropriate treatment methods. Women should not neglect their regular gynecological check-ups and should consult a specialist doctor without delay when they notice any symptoms.

In some cases, especially if there are warts in the anal area, referral to a dermatologist or proctology specialist may be made. However, a gynecologist is the best choice for the initial consultation.

Which Doctor for Men?

In men, there are different specialty areas to consult in case of suspected Genital Warts. Urology specialists are doctors specialized in male genital organs and urinary system diseases. They are experienced in diagnosing and treating warts in the penis, scrotum, and urethra areas. They can make comprehensive evaluations regarding male reproductive health.

Dermatology specialists also play an important role in Genital Warts treatment. They have extensive knowledge about skin diseases and HPV infections. They can evaluate lesions especially on the penis skin, groin area, and scrotum. They can apply dermatological treatment methods such as cryotherapy and laser treatment.

If warts are present in the anal area, a general surgeon or proctology specialist can be consulted. Some men may experience embarrassment or hesitation; in this case, they can consult a family physician to be directed to the appropriate specialty. Within Estepera Polyclinic, there are experienced specialists where male patients can comfortably share their Genital Warts problems and receive professional treatment.

Can We Get Rid of Genital Warts with Natural Methods?

Various natural methods and homemade solutions for Genital Warts treatment may be suggested on the internet, but it is necessary to be extremely careful about this subject. The effectiveness of natural methods has not been scientifically proven, and incorrect applications can lead to serious complications.

Risks of Natural Methods

The genital area is an extremely sensitive area, and aggressive or acidic substances can cause serious burns, inflammation, and permanent damage. Apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, garlic, or other natural products are not suitable for the genital area and can cause serious irritation. Wasting time with natural methods leads to warts growing, increasing in number, and continued risk of transmission to partners.

Incorrectly applied natural methods can lead to infection, severe pain, and scar tissue. The HPV virus may be present not only in visible warts but also in surrounding normal-looking skin, so removing the wart does not completely eliminate the virus. In women, natural methods applied inside the vagina or to the cervix are especially dangerous and can damage the vaginal flora.

Immune System Supporting Approaches

Instead of natural treatment methods, immune system strengthening approaches are more logical and safer. However, these do not replace medical treatment; they can only be used as support. Balanced and vitamin-rich nutrition, especially foods containing vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and folic acid support the immune system. Regular exercise improves immune functions. Adequate and quality sleep is necessary for the body’s renewal. Stress management, activities such as meditation and yoga positively affect the immune system. Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption is important.

However, all these supportive approaches must be applied in conjunction with medical treatment. In Genital Warts treatment, cryotherapy, electrocautery, laser treatment, or topical medications performed under the supervision of a specialist doctor are both safer and more effective.

Is Genital Warts a Self-Resolving Disease?

The question of whether Genital Warts resolve on their own is an important topic of curiosity for both women and men. Scientific data shows that in some cases, Genital Warts can disappear by being controlled by the immune system.

Probability of Spontaneous Resolution

Research reveals that approximately 20-30 percent of Genital Warts regress spontaneously within the first three months, and 50-70 percent within two years. This process depends entirely on the strength of the person’s immune system. Young individuals, especially women and men in their 20s, have a higher probability of spontaneous resolution due to a stronger immune response. An immune system encountering HPV for the first time can develop a response to the virus over time.

However, some factors reduce the likelihood of spontaneous resolution. In people with weak immune systems, spontaneous resolution is much rarer. Older individuals heal with more difficulty due to weakening of the immune system. Multiple or large-sized warts have a lower probability of disappearing on their own. The healing process is slower in smokers. In people under stress or with chronic diseases, the probability of spontaneous resolution decreases.

Importance of Getting Treatment Instead of Waiting

Getting treatment instead of waiting for spontaneous resolution is important in many ways. Untreated Genital Warts can grow over time, increase in number, and spread to a wider area. In women, untreated warts can grow rapidly during pregnancy and lead to complications. In men, untreated warts, especially accumulated under the prepuce, can cause hygiene problems.

Even if warts disappear, the HPV virus can remain latent in the body and become active again when the immune system weakens. The risk of transmission to sexual partners continues during the waiting period without treatment. The presence of Genital Warts can cause psychological stress, feelings of shame, and hesitation in sexual life. Early treatment accelerates both physical and psychological recovery.

At Estepera Polyclinic, modern and effective methods are applied in Genital Warts treatment for both women and men. Options include destroying warts by freezing with cryotherapy, safe intervention in sensitive areas with laser treatment, burning warts with electrocautery method, strengthening the immune system with topical immunomodulator drugs. Surgical excision to remove large warts can also be applied when necessary.

Regular follow-up after treatment is important because there is a risk of recurrence in Genital Warts. Both women and men should go to regular check-ups for 3-6 months after treatment. The HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of reinfection after treatment. It is important to check whether your partner also has warts or HPV infection.

Genital Warts is a serious but treatable condition. Both women and men should consult an appropriate specialist without embarrassment and without delay when they notice any symptoms. Early diagnosis and proper treatment both positively affect the course of the disease and reduce the risk of transmission. Safe sexual life, HPV vaccination, regular health check-ups, and a healthy lifestyle are the most effective methods for protection against Genital Warts.

10 Frequently Asked Questions About Genital Warts

1-Do genital warts only spread through sexual intercourse?

The main transmission route for Genital Warts is sexual contact, but penetrative intercourse is not necessarily required. The HPV virus can be transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, as well as just through skin contact between genital areas. For example, hand-to-genital contact or genital rubbing may be sufficient. In very rare cases, indirect transmission from shared use areas such as contaminated towels, underwear, or toilets is possible, but this is quite exceptional. The HPV virus can remain viable for a while especially in moist and warm environments. Therefore, not sharing personal items and paying attention to hygiene rules is important. As a protective measure, condom use reduces risk but does not provide complete protection because the virus may also be present in genital areas not covered by the condom.

2-Can I have sexual intercourse if I have genital warts?

Having sexual intercourse while having Genital Warts both carries the risk of transmitting the virus to your partner and can cause existing lesions to become irritated and complications such as bleeding. It is strongly recommended to avoid sexual intercourse during treatment. In women, if warts are located on the vulva, vagina, or cervix, sexual contact can both be painful and cause lesions to spread. In men, warts in the penis, scrotum, or anal area can similarly be damaged during sexual activity. Even after treatment is completed, it is important for your doctor to give the green light to return to sexual activity. A waiting period of generally 2-4 weeks is recommended during the post-treatment recovery period. Additionally, since the HPV virus can remain in the body even after treatment, using condoms and having your partner checked even in long-term relationships is beneficial to protect your partner.

3-Does the HPV vaccine treat genital warts?

The HPV vaccine does not treat Genital Warts; it only provides a protective measure against HPV types that have not yet been exposed to. The vaccine creates immunity against the most common HPV types (types 6, 11, 16, and 18). Types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90 percent of Genital Warts. If you have a current Genital Warts infection, the vaccine will not eliminate these warts or treat the existing infection. However, getting vaccinated after treatment can reduce the risk of infection with different HPV types in the future. The vaccine is most effective when administered before sexual activity begins, generally between ages 9-14, because exposure to the virus has not yet occurred during this period. In adults, the vaccine can also be administered up to age 26 (up to age 45 in some countries) and can provide partial protection. At healthcare centers like Estepera Polyclinic, both HPV vaccination programs and Genital Warts treatment services are offered together.

4-My partner has genital warts, will I definitely get warts too?

If Genital Warts have been detected in your partner, the probability that you have also been exposed to the HPV virus is high, but this does not necessarily mean that warts will appear in you as well. In case of HPV transmission, three different scenarios are possible: Your immune system can completely clear the virus and no symptoms appear. The virus can remain latent (hidden) in your body, not forming warts but maintaining potential infectiousness. If your immune system cannot control the virus, Genital Warts may appear in you within weeks or even months. The incubation period varies from person to person; it can take from a few weeks to several years for warts to appear after the virus is transmitted. If warts are detected in your partner, women should consult a gynecologist, and men should consult a urologist or dermatologist for examination. Even if there is no visible lesion during examination, an HPV test can be performed. Both partners should be treated and sexual intercourse should be avoided until treatment is completed.

5-Is genital warts treatment painful?

Whether Genital Warts treatment will be painful varies depending on the treatment method used, the size and location of the warts. Topical medications (creams or solutions) are generally painless, but mild burning, redness, or irritation may be felt at the application site. During cryotherapy (freezing treatment), there may be a slight burning or stinging sensation caused by the cold application, but it is at a level that can be tolerated by most patients. Mild pain during the procedure, pain and swelling for a few days after the procedure are considered normal. Local anesthesia is applied before electrocautery (burning) or laser treatment, so severe pain is not felt during the procedure. Mild pain and discomfort may occur for 2-3 days after the procedure and can be controlled with painkillers. Surgical excision (removal by cutting) is performed under local or general anesthesia, there is no pain during the procedure, but pain may occur for 4-7 days during the healing process. In women, treatment of intravaginal or cervical warts is generally less painful because there are fewer nerve endings in these areas. In men, the head of the penis and areas near the urethra are more sensitive areas.

6-Do genital warts come back after treatment?

There is unfortunately a risk of recurrence in Genital Warts treatment. Treatment only eliminates visible lesions but does not completely clear the HPV virus from the body. The virus can remain latent in surrounding normal-looking skin after treatment and become active again when appropriate conditions arise. Statistics show that recurrence can be seen at a rate of 20-30 percent within the first 3 months after Genital Warts treatment. Factors that increase the risk of recurrence include weak immune system, smoking, stress, inadequate nutrition, multiple sexual partners, incomplete treatment, and partner not being treated. In women, pregnancy can increase the risk of recurrence due to hormonal changes. To reduce the risk of recurrence, regular check-ups should be done after treatment, a healthy lifestyle should be adopted, nutrition and exercise that strengthen the immune system are important. Quitting smoking, stress management, partner being treated, and safe sexual life practices reduce the risk of recurrence. At Estepera Polyclinic, the risk of recurrence is minimized with post-treatment follow-up programs.

7-What should I do if genital warts appear during pregnancy?

The appearance of Genital Warts during pregnancy is not an uncommon situation because hormonal changes during pregnancy and natural suppression of the immune system can activate existing HPV infection or cause warts to grow rapidly. If Genital Warts are detected in a pregnant woman, she should immediately consult a gynecologist. In most cases, warts do not harm the baby and do not affect delivery, but if there are very large warts in the birth canal, a cesarean section may be necessary. Treatment options that can be used during pregnancy are limited; some topical medications are not safe during pregnancy. Cryotherapy or surgical excision are considered safe treatment options during pregnancy. Laser treatment may be preferred in some cases, but doctor evaluation is required. Some doctors may prefer to postpone treatment until after delivery if the warts are small and not causing discomfort. In very rare cases, if the baby comes into contact with HPV during delivery, “juvenile recurrent respiratory papillomatosis” may develop, but this risk is less than 1 percent. Management of Genital Warts during pregnancy should be personalized and done under the supervision of an experienced gynecologist.

8-How is genital warts testing done?

Genital Warts diagnosis is generally made by clinical examination, and in most cases, visible lesions are sufficient. However, in some cases, additional tests may be needed. For women, during gynecological examination, the doctor visually examines the vulva, vagina, and cervix. Acetic acid test (vinegar test) can be applied; when diluted acetic acid is applied to the suspicious area, warts turn white. With colposcopy, the vagina and cervix are examined in detail by magnification, small lesions can be detected. HPV DNA test determines the presence and type of the virus; it is especially important for detecting high-risk types. Pap smear (cervical screening test) evaluates cellular changes in the cervix. In suspicious cases, a biopsy is taken and tissue is examined pathologically. For men, during urological or dermatological examination, the doctor examines the penis, scrotum, and anal area. The underside of the foreskin is especially checked. Acetic acid test can also be applied in men. Urethroscopy can be used when intraurethral lesions are suspected. HPV testing is less common in men but can be done when necessary. At Estepera Polyclinic, all these diagnostic methods are applied with modern equipment and by experienced specialists.

9-Should I tell my partner that I have genital warts?

Yes, telling your partner that you have Genital Warts is extremely important both ethically and medically. Honesty and transparency are the foundation of a healthy relationship. Your partner has the right to protect their health as well. The HPV virus is contagious and your partner is at risk of being infected. Your partner may already be infected and symptoms may not have appeared yet. Both partners being examined and treated if necessary prevents recurring infections (ping-pong infection). If you are worried about how to open the subject, you can first consult with your doctor and get advice on what approach to take. Have the conversation in a private and comfortable environment with non-judgmental language. Explain that Genital Warts are a very common condition (75-80 percent of sexually active adults encounter HPV at some point in their lives). State that this situation does not necessarily mean infidelity; the virus can remain latent for years. Suggest going to the doctor together and managing the treatment process together. Your partner’s reaction may be negative, but honesty strengthens the relationship in the long run.

10-What hygiene rules should I pay attention to when I have genital warts?

Paying attention to certain hygiene rules during and after Genital Warts treatment both accelerates healing and reduces the risk of transmission. Wash the genital area at least once a day with warm water and mild, unscented soap; do not use aggressive soaps and shower gels. After washing, gently dry the area, do not rub. For women, avoid using vaginal douche, it can disrupt the natural vaginal flora. For men, keep under the foreskin especially clean. Do not share towels, underwear, and personal items with anyone. Change your underwear daily and wash at high temperature (at least 60 degrees). Prefer cotton, breathable underwear; synthetic fabrics retain moisture. Avoid tight pants or leggings, they block air circulation. Adopt the habit of wiping from front to back after toilet (especially for women). Wear slippers in shared use areas (hammam, sauna, pool). Use paper before sitting on the toilet seat or disinfect it. Keep your nails short and avoid scratching the genital area. Avoid sexual intercourse during treatment. If you touched the wart area, wash your hands immediately with soap. Paying attention to these hygiene rules both accelerates your own healing and minimizes the risk of transmission to others.

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