Comparison

Traditional treatments

Imiquimod

Imiquimod treats external warts around the genital area and rectum which is called condyloma acuminatum. Do not use this on warts inside the vagina, penis, or rectum.

Imiquimod is sold in a dosage of cream under the brand names: Aldara & Zyclara.

These medicines are only available with a doctor’s prescription.

Podophyllin and podofilox

Podophyllin and podofilox treat certain types of external warts in the genital area by destroying the skin of the wart. The gel is used also to treat warts between the genitals and the rectum, but the solution isn’t. Do not use these medicines on internal warts.

Podofilox is sold in a dosage of gel or solution under the brand names: Condylox/Condyline.

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

Trichloroacetic acid

Trichloroacetic acid kills off external warts by destroying the proteins in the cells. After repeated application, it will cause warts to shrink and eventually disappear.

Trichloroacetic acid is a liquid directly applied to the wart, but may also destroy the normal skin surrounding the wart.

The application of trichloroacetic acid should only be executed by trained healthcare professionals.

Home remedies

Apple cider vinegar

Treat external genital warts by soaking a cotton swap in Apple cider vinegar, putting it on the wart, and covering it with a bandage. Refresh twice a day. Depending on the stubbornness of the wart it can take around two weeks for warts to disappear.

Side note: there is no scientific evidence this treatment works.

Always consult a medical professional before starting this treatment.

Castor oil

in combination with baking soda

Treat external genital warts by soaking a cotton swap in castor oil, putting it on the wart, and covering it with a bandage. Refresh it two or three times a day. Depending on the stubbornness of the wart it can take around 14 days for warts to disappear.

If this is not successful, try to apply a mixture of castor oil with baking soda. Follow the same treatment scheme.

Side note: there is no scientific evidence this treatment works.

Always consult a medical professional before starting this treatment.

Surgery

Freezing with liquid nitrogen

Cryotherapy freezes a wart using a very cold substance (mostly liquid nitrogen). The liquid nitrogen application usually takes less than a minute.

Cryotherapy can only be done at a health care institute, like a doctor’s office.

Over-the-counter products to freeze warts are usually less powerful than liquid nitrogen.

Electrocautery

Electrocautery treats genital warts on the penis, vulva, or around the anus by burning them with a low-voltage electrified probe.

Electrocautery is generally done in a healthcare institution, like a doctor’s office or a clinic. This may be done with an injection of numbing medicine (local anesthetic) for pain control.

Surgical excision

Surgical excision removes genital warts on the penis or vagina or around the anus by excision. In other words: cutting off warts with a surgical knife.

Surgical excision is done in a health care institution, like a doctor’s office, clinic, or outpatient surgery center. This procedure involves a local anesthetic that numbs the area around the warts.

New: Genital Warts Treatment

In 2020 a new and ground-breaking study has been conducted with a genital warts treatment with a 100% success rate. The benefit of this treatment is that next to fast results (20-30 days), it also causes no pain or any discomfort. In addition, it aims to clear HPV in the skin and is available for all genders.

Although this is a relatively new treatment, it already has some promising results. This treatment has a much higher success rate than all other treatments out there. Some people already call it the solution to genital warts and HPV.