Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), spread generally by skin-to-skin contact. They usually present as small, rough lumps on and around the genitals or anus. Diagnosis and treatment begin by visiting a sexual health clinic once diagnosed; after an examination, treatment can be recommended if thought necessary. Genital warts can disappear on their own within 6 months. Currently treatment extends to the use of ointments/creams applied to the affected area, cryotherapy (freezing), or surgery; warts are cut away after numbing, and heat or lasers may alternatively be used. These treatments can cause some level of pain or irritation and do not cure the underlying virus that causes genital warts. Interferon is thought to be potentially useful in the treatment of genital warts. Being a group of medicines currently used for treating viral infections, interferon may help remove genital warts and reduce the chance of recurrence, whilst limiting the need for any sort of surgical intervention.

What are Gential Warts?

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). They may  cause cervical cancer in females; the particular stains that cause genital warts do not, however, cause cervical cancer. The virus can be passed on without the need for visible warts; skin-to-skin contact through vaginal and anal sex is the method through which genital warts can be spread.¹ 

Symptoms

Genital warts are generally rough skin-coloured or whitish growths on the skin, they may have a cauliflower-like appearance. They are not usually painful but may cause:

• Discomfort
• Irritation
• Mild bleeding
• Burning sensation

The warts generally appear within a week of sexual contact with an infected person. However some may not present with warts after infection with HPV, and due to a long incubation period for the virus, warts may begin to present after a year since sexual contact.² 

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of genital warts occurs through a physical examination of the warts that are around the genitals or anus. It may be useful for females over 30 to undergo testing for other forms of HPV as they can be infected by more than one stain of HPV at a time, and more serious strains can cause cervical cancer, so testing a small amount of cervical cells for other HPV infections can be useful.³

After diagnosis, there may not be a need for treatment as genital warts and HPV can go away on their own, with the immune system fighting off the infection.

Treatment of Genital Warts

There is no cure for HPV,the infection that causes genital warts. As once infected, the treatment mainly focusses on the removal of warts if they are a nuisance for the affected party. It is often the case that no medical intervention will take place in the hope that the infection and warts will subside in time; this can occur within 6 months.⁴ 

Treatment to remove warts can help in reducing the chance of spreading the infection as well as preventing further growth of warts. Treatments that may be used to remove warts are:

• Electrocautery: using an electric current to burn away warts.
• Freezing: liquid nitrogen is used to freeze off warts.
• Creams/ointments: prescribed solutions to remove warts. They stop blood flow to the warts to kill them and can cause irritation and pain.
• Laser Treatment: a laser destroys blood vessels in the wart to disrupt blood supply.
• Surgery: large warts that do not respond to treatment can be removed surgically, performed with anaesthetic.

All the treatments above can remove warts, but there is no guarantee of success, and there is always the chance of warts recurring. Also any form of treatment that involves removing or burning off warts can cause pain irritation and has a chance to cause scarring around the genitals or anus.¹ 

Interferon as a Gential Wart Treatment

Interferons are a form of medication currently used to treat viral infections, certain cancers, and autoimmune diseases. They are small proteins that are important in the human immune reaction; they are known as cytokines. They are signalling proteins that cause the body to increase its immune response. Interferon can be used medicinally as they cause the expression of certain genes that are responsible for the creation of molecules that can be important in antiviral reactions and stopping the spread of tumours.⁵

With interferon being useful in the treatment of other viral infections, the ability to treat genital warts would seem well within reason. Research has shown that injections of interferon can be useful for treatment of genital warts, increasing the rate of immune response to the infection as well as reducing the chance of recurrence in those that go without interferon.⁶

However, interferon is not generally used for treatment, while it can be used in conjunction with other therapies. Imiquimod is a medication used that boosts the body's natural interferon in hopes of increasing the body's immune response to the infection that causes genital warts.² 

Prevention

As there is no treatment for HPV, the infection that causes genital warts, beyond combatting the symptoms, the best methods we have involve reducing the chance of catching and spreading the disease. 

This involves practicing safe sex by using a condom to prevent spread of the infection and getting regularly tested at a sexual health clinic.

There is also a HPV vaccine that can reduce your chances of catching the infection, and if you have already had genital warts/HPV the vaccine can be useful to protect against the more harmful strains that can cause cervical/anal cancer.¹ 

Summary

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV); certain more harmful strains of this virus can cause cervical cancer in females. Genital warts are generally not harmful and present as rough lumps around the genitals and/or anus. If these lumps appear, they can be confirmed by a medical professional upon the completion of a physical examination. Treatment may not be necessary as the warts can go away on their own within a 6-month period. However if intervention is required, some steps can be taken.

The use of topical ointments and creams can be useful medications to remove warts. Otherwise more physical removal is necessary; this can include freezing, heat, laser, or surgery in order to remove the warts. All these methods deal only with the removal of the warts and may cause pain or potentially scarring on the genitals/anus. There is no cure, and once the virus is caught, warts may recur at any time.

Interferon may be used as a medication to reduce the chance of recurrence of genital warts and increase the body's immune response to the infection, reducing the presence of the warts. Interferon can do this as it is part of the normal immune function of the human body.nterferons are signalling proteins that can help increase the bodies immune response to viral infections, so introducing increased levels of interferon in those with HPV can combat genital warts. Imiquimod is a commonly used medication that boosts the body's natural levels of interferon, which can then increase the response to infection.

The best way to stop the spread is prevention; this can be done by practicing safe sex (condoms, regular sexual health tests) and the HPV vaccine that can reduce the chance of catching HPV and therefore developing genital warts.