Genital Warts Suspected

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hello, I need help, i think i might have genital warts. I don't know where i would have gotten it, i noticed something a long time ago, i got checked and nothing came up. In the last year i noticed it again and got another test and still nothing showed up...just recently i noticed it again, it looks like a skin tag by my anal area...is there a reason why when i get tested nothing comes up? I want to get rid of whatever this is, can you let me know what type of persciptions will help me??

Dear Sherry: Genital warts, sometimes called condyloma acuminata, are flesh-colored or gray growths found in the genital area and anal region of both men and women. They are the most common sexually-transmitted disease caused by a virus: the human papillomavirus (HPV).

There is no single treatment 100% effective in eliminating warts and preventing them from coming back. Genital warts may go away on their own in about 10%-20% of people over a period of three to four months. The treatment options are as follows: Cryotherapy: this freezes the wart using liquid nitrogen or a "cryoprobe." It is an excellent first-line treatment because response rates are high with few side effects. Laser treatment: is used for extensive or recurrent genital warts. It may require local, regional, or general anesthesia. The laser destroys the HPV-induced lesion. It is very costly, increased healing time, scarring, and potentially infectious viral particles in the air caused by the laser plume. Electrodessication: uses an electric current to destroy the warts. It can be done in the office with local anesthesia. Dormant infections may also become activated. Because no treatment is 100% effective, it is important to prevent the spread of HPV which causes genital warts and some cancers whenever possible. Transmission of genital warts can be decreased if you use condoms and refrain from sexual activity until therapy is completed.