What to expect from electrosurgery for genital warts

A clinician first examines the area and confirms which growths are suitable for treatment. Local anaesthetic is commonly used so the skin is numb. A fine electrical instrument then heats and removes the visible wart tissue. You may notice pressure, warmth, or a smell from treated tissue, but sharp pain should be reported during the procedure.

The treatment addresses visible warts, not necessarily the virus that caused them, so new warts can appear later. The genital skin may look red, swollen, crusted, or tender while it repairs. Healing depends on the number and location of treated areas.

Follow the clinician’s instructions for washing and dressing the area. Keep it clean, avoid rubbing, and wear loose clothing while tenderness settles. Do not pick at crusts. Ask when sexual contact, swimming, exercise, or shaving can safely resume, because friction and moisture may irritate healing skin. Attend follow-up if advised so persistent or returning growths can be assessed.

Contact the treating clinic if pain is worsening rather than settling, bleeding does not stop with gentle pressure, or the area becomes increasingly hot, swollen, or foul-smelling. Seek prompt care for fever, spreading redness, pus, difficulty passing urine, or severe swelling. These signs need assessment and do not confirm the cause on their own.

Ask which lesions will be treated, how the area should be cleaned, what pain relief is suitable, when sexual contact can resume, and whether testing or review for other sexually transmitted infections is appropriate.