- 1. Remedies for HPV
- 2. HPV surgery
- Treatment of HPV in men
- Treatment of HPV in pregnancy
- How is delivery in case of HPV
- Does HPV treatment hurt?
- Does HPV come back?
- HPV complications
- Signs of HPV improvement
- Signs of worsening HPV
Treatment for HPV can be done using drugs or even surgery. The goal of treatment is not to eliminate the virus, because there is no treatment that is able to achieve this goal, but it is aimed at controlling symptoms and eliminating skin lesions that are caused by the virus. Find out more in: Is HPV curable?
These treatments are not able to eliminate the virus but are important to eliminate the lesions, prevent the spread to others, and are also useful to prevent the development of cancer.
The main treatments are:
1. Remedies for HPV
The doctor may recommend the use of some medicines to eliminate the lesions caused by HPV and to strengthen the immune system, such as:
- Podofilox 0.5% for 3 consecutive days, leaving 4 days without treatment and repeating the process up to 4 times; 80 to 90% trichloroacetic or dichloroacetic acid, once a week; 5% imiquimod, 3 times a week, for up to 16 weeks; Podophyllin resin of 10 to 25%, once a week, for up to 4 weeks; Retinoids: vitamin A compounds that help in skin regeneration that can be used twice a day, for 4 to 8 weeks.
In addition, it may be indicated to use Interferon to complement the treatment.
These treatments are used, mainly, in the treatment of genital HPV and to complement the treatment one must have good intimate hygiene and use a condom in all intimate contact, carefully checking if the condom covered the lesions. It is also important that the partner is evaluated by a doctor to see if they have already been infected and then start treatment.
2. HPV surgery
Surgery can be indicated when the lesions are very large and when the person has a tendency to bleed, and can be performed in the doctor's office or hospital.
Options include removing lesions with a scalpel, electrocoagulation, cryotherapy or laser, with great chances of completely eliminating warts. As these treatments can cause pain, the doctor can indicate an anesthesia to reduce the discomfort during treatment.
When there is cancer, surgery to remove the warts is also indicated.
Treatment of HPV in men
When the man has the HPV virus, treatment is only indicated when he has symptoms such as warts in the affected regions. The treatment is the same as that performed on the woman, and can be done at home with the drugs prescribed by the doctor. Know other symptoms of HPV in men.
Treatment of HPV in pregnancy
Treatment should start, preferably, in the first weeks of pregnancy, with the remedies mentioned above and under the guidance of the obstetrician.
However, when the woman has genital warts at the end of pregnancy, it is recommended to deliver by cesarean section, as there is a risk of transmission of the disease to the baby if she comes in contact with the lesions.
It is generally recommended to have HPV treatment before becoming pregnant to reduce the chances of warts during delivery.
How is delivery in case of HPV
Normally, it is not a contraindication for normal delivery, but when genital warts are very large, cesarean section or surgery to remove the warts may be indicated.
Although there is a risk that the mother will transmit the virus to the baby during delivery, it is not common for the baby to become infected. However, when the baby becomes infected, he may have warts on his mouth, throat, eyes or genital area.
Does HPV treatment hurt?
The treatment of HPV can hurt during the removal of warts, especially during cryotherapy and, therefore, the patient can stay with the painful area for up to 7 days. However, warm compresses of chamomile tea can be placed in the area to lessen the pain.
Does HPV come back?
HPV warts can reoccur because the immune system can take several years to clear the virus from cells. Thus, during treatment it is important for the patient to use a condom or stay abstinent until the virus is eliminated from the body, preventing the transmission of the disease.
The HPV cure happens when the immune system is able to eliminate the virus, which happens most of the time. But to increase the chances of a cure, the body's defenses must be strengthened through the intake of vitamin C or medicines prescribed by the doctor, such as Interferon, for example.
HPV complications
HPV increases the risk of developing cancer in the places where the warts are located, so there may be cancer in the vagina, vulva, anus, penis, scrotum or even in the mouth.
The best way to prevent the development of cancer is to undergo treatment with medication or surgery.
Signs of HPV improvement
When the treatment is done properly, symptoms of HPV improvement may appear, such as a decrease in the number and size of warts, as well as the disappearance of cancer, in the most severe cases.
However, warts can reoccur because the virus is dormant in the body, and is not eliminated after treatment of the warts or cancer.
Signs of worsening HPV
Signs of worsening are rare and are usually related to the transmission of warts to another location on the body.
The types of HPV that cause warts are not the same as those that lead to cancer, and for that reason, warts cannot progress to cancer, even if untreated.
Watch the video below and see in a simple way how to identify the first symptoms of this disease to start your treatment right away.
