Healthier Scotland. Scottish Government

Genital warts treatment

Treatments for genital warts

If you have genital warts, you will usually be prescribed an anti-wart liquid or cream which can be used at home.

Do not use wart-removal preparations that you can buy from the pharmacy, as these will not work on genital warts – always consult a doctor or nurse.

Other treatments include freezing and are carried out by a doctor or nurse. Freezing treatments, although not painful, may be uncomfortable, and may go on for several weeks to ensure the complete removal of the warts.

These other treatments, although not painful, may be uncomfortable and may go on for several weeks to ensure the complete removal of the warts. Most people require treatment for at least four weeks but it can take up to twelve weeks.

Although the virus is usually cleared from the body by the immune system, warts can recur.

If left untreated, genital warts may disappear on their own. However, they may also stay the same size, or grow larger in size and number. They will also remain infectious.

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Treating genital warts during pregnancy

Some treatments are unsuitable during pregnancy and treatment may be delayed until after the child is born.

If you are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, tell the doctor so they can choose a treatment that won’t be harmful to the developing baby.

The risk of passing the virus to your baby either during pregnancy or delivery is very small.

Read more about sexual health and pregnancy

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