How long does cryotherapy take to work for genital warts?

Freezing can cause stinging during treatment and tenderness, swelling, blistering, or a shallow sore afterwards. The wart may darken or form a crust before the treated skin heals. Cryotherapy removes visible wart tissue but does not let you predict whether another wart will appear, so examination of the surrounding skin and follow-up are useful. Your clinician can explain whether the number, size, and location of warts make repeat sessions likely.

Follow the clinic's instructions for washing, drying, dressings, and pain relief. Keep the area dry after bathing, avoid picking at healing tissue, and pause sexual contact until the treated skin has healed and your clinician says it is reasonable. Do not apply over-the-counter wart products to genital skin unless specifically prescribed. Keep follow-up appointments so remaining or new lesions can be assessed.

Contact the clinic if pain becomes severe, swelling is rapidly worsening, urine flow is affected, bleeding persists, or the area develops spreading redness, pus, fever, or a bad smell. Seek urgent help for inability to pass urine, rapidly spreading swelling, or breathing difficulty.

Ask when sexual contact can safely resume, how to care for the treated skin, when a repeat session might be considered, and whether partners need separate advice or testing.