Genital Warts Follow-up

  • Author: Tsu-Yi Chuang, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 30, 2012
 

Further Outpatient Care

Patients typically are monitored on a periodic basis to assess for efficacy of treatment, unwanted side effects, and the development of complications. Outpatient follow-up care also provides an opportunity to evaluate for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and provides patient education on an ongoing basis.

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Deterrence/Prevention

Vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (ie, Gardasil Cervarix) have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

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Complications

Disease complications can include progression to malignancy and transmission to other sexual contacts. In the setting of genital warts active during a pregnancy delivery, there is a small risk of laryngeal papillomatosis.

Each therapeutic modality carries its own unique set of risks. Risks of individual medical options are discussed in Treatment. Expected effects of cryosurgery include pain, edema, vesicles, bullae, weeping, and some necrosis. There is a small risk of infection, bleeding, abnormal scarring, pigment alteration, paresthesias, and alopecia with cryosurgery. Similarly, laser surgery of genital warts may result in pigment alteration, abnormal scarring, and infection. Special care must be taken to prevent respiratory infection from the laser plume generated by vaporization of virally infected tissue.

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Prognosis

Prognosis is good, and most cases of genital warts are amenable to treatment. Patients who are immunosuppressed with genital warts may represent a special challenge.

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Patient Education

Patients with genital warts deserve a focused history and physical examination, with appropriate testing to assess for other STDs. In a population study, 7% of men and 31% of women who had genital warts had concurrent STDs. In fact, 28% of these men and 71% of women had other STDs before or after their genital warts. Additionally, several consort studies documented that 30% of female consorts and 80% of male consorts had HPV infection. Usually, the same type of HPV involved both parties, and often they were HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18.

The benefit of evaluating sex partners of patients with genital warts has been apparent.

For patient education resources, see the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Center, as well as Genital Warts.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Tsu-Yi Chuang, MD, MPH  Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California; Staff Dermatologist, Desert Oasis Healthcare

Tsu-Yi Chuang, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and International Society of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ryan Brashear, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Ryan Brashear, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

David F Butler, MD Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Edward F Chan, MD Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark W Cobb, MD Consulting Staff, WNC Dermatological Associates

Mark W Cobb, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and American Society of Dermatopathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Condyloma acuminatum.
Small papilloma of the vulva.
"Cauliflower" condyloma of the penis.
Small papilloma on the shaft of penis.
Small papilloma of the anus.
 
 
 
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