How effective is electrosurgery for genital warts?

Genital warts are growths associated with certain types of human papillomavirus. Electrosurgery applies controlled heat to destroy visible wart tissue. It may be suitable for an individual wart or a cluster, depending on its size, number and location. The treated area needs time to heal, and the clinician may recommend local anaesthetic to improve comfort during the procedure.

Clearer skin after treatment does not prove that HPV is gone. New warts can appear, and a wart-like lesion may need examination before treatment because other conditions can look similar. Treatment choice also depends on whether the growths are on external skin or near sensitive genital tissue.

Seek an examination from a clinician experienced with genital skin. Tell them about pregnancy, immune-system conditions, previous wart treatments and medicines that affect bleeding or healing. Do not shave, cut or burn the growths yourself.

Follow wound-care advice after the procedure, keep the area clean and avoid sexual contact until the clinician says the skin has healed. Use barrier protection as advised, while understanding that it may not cover every area that can transmit HPV. Attend follow-up if warts persist or reappear, and discuss partner communication and appropriate sexual-health screening.

Get prompt medical advice for increasing swelling, severe or worsening pain, pus, fever, spreading redness, difficulty passing urine or bleeding that continues despite gentle pressure. Arrange assessment for a growth that is rapidly changing, ulcerated, unusually firm or not responding as expected, rather than repeatedly treating it at home.

Ask whether the diagnosis is clear, how many areas may need treatment, what anaesthetic and wound care will be used, how long to avoid sex, how recurrence will be monitored and whether another option suits the location better.