Hanover

(804) 559-3400

Stony Point

(804) 249-2465

West End

(804) 288-7077

Anal Warts

What are anal warts?
Anal warts, also called condyloma acuminata, are a relatively common and bothersome condition that affects the area around the anus. They may also affect the skin of the genital area.

They first appear as tiny blemishes, perhaps as small as the head of a pin, and may grow larger than the size of a pea. Usually they do not cause pain or discomfort so many patients may be unaware the warts are present.

Where do these warts come from?
They are thought to be caused by the human papilloma virus which is relatively contagious. The virus can be transmitted from person to person, almost always by direct contact.

Do these warts always need to be removed?
Yes. If they are not removed, the warts can grow larger and become more numerous.  There is evidence these warts can become cancerous if left untreated for a long time.

What treatments are available?
If warts are very small and are located only on the skin around the anus, they can be treated with medications applied directly to the surface of the warts.  While relatively simple in concept, to prevent injury to the normal skin surrounding the warts this must be done with great care and precision by a physician.  This treatment usually requires several applications at various intervals over several weeks.

Another form of treatment involves more rapid destruction of the warts using electrical cautery, surgical removal or a combination of the two.  Laser surgery may also be used in some cases. These procedures provide immediate results.  Depending on the number and location of warts, these treatments must be performed using either a local anesthetic, such as novocaine, or a general or spinal anesthetic.

Warts inside the anal canal usually are not suitable for treatment by medications, and in most cases need to be treated by cauterization or surgical removal.

Must I be hospitalized for treatment?
No.  Almost always, the cautery and excision technique can be performed on an outpatient basis, and the patient can go home after the procedure.

How much time will I lose from work after a cautery treatment?
This depends on each individual situation and the extensiveness of warts removed.  Most people are moderately uncomfortable for a few days after treatment, and pain medication may be prescribed. Depending on the extent of the disease, some people return to work the next day, while others may remain out of work for several days.

Will a single treatment cure the problem?
Not in most cases, unfortunately.  Even with the cautery and surgical treatments that immediately destroy existing warts, many patients develop new warts after treatment.

This occurs because viruses that cause the warts can live concealed in tissues that appear normal for up to 6 months or longer before another wart develops. New warts often develop from the virus that was already present in the tissue, but these are not recurrences of warts already treated.

As new warts develop, they usually can be treated in the physician’s office, using either a chemical solution or the electrical cautery procedure. These treatments are performed every few weeks initially, then less frequently as new warts become smaller and less numerous.

Sometimes new warts develop so rapidly that office treatment would be quite uncomfortable. In these situations, a second and occasionally third outpatient surgical visit may be recommended.

How long is treatment usually continued?
Follow-up visits are necessary for some months after the last wart is observed to be certain that no more warts occur from viruses living in the cells of skin.

What can be done to avoid getting these warts again?
In some cases, warts may recur repeatedly after successful removal, since the virus that causes the warts often persists in a dormant state in body tissues.  To avoid recurrence and reinfection

  • Observe the area for several months after the last wart was spotted to determine when the warts and the underlying virus that causes them has been eliminated
  • Abstain from sexual contact with individuals who have anal (or genital) warts. Since many individuals are unaware they suffer from this condition, sexual abstinence or limiting sexual contact to marriage relationships will reduce your potential exposure to the contagious virus that causes these warts. As a precaution, sexual partners ought to be checked, even if they have no symptoms.

Hours of Operation

Monday

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Tuesday

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Wednesday

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Thursday

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Friday

8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Monday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thursday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

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