HPV treatment for men includes the use of topical medicines such as Aldara or Condylox. However, if HPV symptoms do not heal with topical solutions, one has to undergo surgery to remove the warts.
HPV in men is the result of keeping a sexual relation with a HPV infected partner. Warts appearing in the genital area is one of the most common symptoms of HPV infection in men. Genital warts (cauliflower shaped skin growths) in men may be seen on the penis, anus or the scrotum. Apart from warts formation, the person may experience an itchy feeling in the genital area and is accompanied by discomfort during sexual intercourse. HPV infection in men, in rare cases, leads to anal or penile cancer.
How to Treat HPV Infection
Topical Medication
Aldara is a commonly prescribed cream to get rid of the infection. It is an antiviral cream that increases the immune response of the skin against warts. This in turn helps to eliminate genital warts. Application of Condylox solution is yet another topical remedy to clear the infection. The patient may have to use these medications for 10-12 weeks to get rid of these unwanted growths.
Surgery
Studies show that topical creams are not effective against warts that are bigger in size. It is observed that large warts are resistant to topical medications and so in such cases, any of the following surgical procedures may be recommended:
Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy, also referred to as cold therapy involves freezing skin growths using liquid nitrogen, to remove warts. Liquid nitrogen is put on the affected area, just for a few seconds, which is enough to lower the temperature of the affected site. The abnormal skin growth cannot withstand this low temperature and hence gets destroyed. As cryotherapy can trigger a cramping sensation, the doctor may give local anesthesia to the affected site before applying liquid nitrogen.
Excision: The doctor may use surgical tools to eliminate warts. In this procedure, the wart is removed by cutting it. This form of surgery can be extremely painful if no anesthesia is used and so the doctor will numb the area by applying appropriate medications, before starting the procedure.
Electrocautery: This procedure involves use of low voltage electric current to destroy the abnormal tissue. The current is sent through an electrified probe that is kept in contact with the affected area. The low voltage current immediately burns off the warts, no matter how large it is.
Laser Therapy: A large stubborn wart is usually the candidate for laser therapy. In this method, an intense beam of light is targeted on the infected site. When the laser comes in contact with the warts, the heat from the beam of light is transferred to the abnormal skin tissue. This transference of heat energy evaporates the warts. The aim of this treatment is to stop the cycle of recurring outbreak of warts, which may not be possible with cryotherapy.
Is Treatment Necessary?
In some cases, even after getting infected with the HPV virus, the person may not show any symptoms. The duration period of absence of symptoms may even last for months, which is an indication of a healthy immune system. Even if genital warts appear they may vanish within a few days, without any treatment. A person with low immunity is likely to have a moderate to severe outbreak of genital warts. In such cases, treatment is necessary to get rid of the infection.
HPV infection can always be avoided if safe sex practices are followed. The use of condoms as well as being loyal to your partner (avoid multiple sexual partners) can greatly reduce the chances of contracting the HPV virus.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
