Genital Warts Removal in Dubai
Genital warts are common and treatable. A doctor at our clinic in Dubai Healthcare City examines the warts, confirms the diagnosis and removes them with a method that fits their size, number and location.
Removal in the clinic works faster than creams, which run for weeks at home.
- Doctor-led diagnosis and removal
- Private consultation
- Open every day, 07:00 to 23:00
In short
- Genital warts (condylomata acuminata) are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 in about 9 of 10 cases and rarely turn into cancer.
- Treatment options are in-clinic removal (cryotherapy, excision, electrosurgery, laser, trichloroacetic acid) and prescription creams such as imiquimod.
- In trials, excision cleared warts in 89 to 100 percent of patients, electrosurgery in 94 to 100 percent, cryotherapy in 44 to 75 percent and imiquimod cream in 35 to 75 percent.
- About 1 in 3 genital warts disappears without treatment within 4 months, but nobody can predict which ones.
- Warts come back in some people, because HPV can stay in the skin after the visible warts are gone.
What are genital warts?
Genital warts, medically called condylomata acuminata or anogenital warts, are soft skin growths caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV types 6 and 11, which carry a low cancer risk, are found in about 90 percent of genital warts. Genital warts appear on the penis, vulva, groin, perineum or the skin around the anus. They measure from 1 millimetre to several centimetres and are flat, dome-shaped or cauliflower-shaped, white, skin-coloured, pink or brown.
HPV passes through direct skin-to-skin contact during sex. Genital warts appear 3 weeks to 8 months after infection. In a study of 473 young men, 58 percent of those who acquired HPV 6 or 11 developed genital warts within 24 months. Because the time between infection and warts is long, a new wart does not show when or from whom the infection came.
How are genital warts diagnosed?
A doctor recognises genital warts in most cases by examination with bright light or a dermatoscope, a magnifying lens for the skin. A biopsy, a small tissue sample, follows when the diagnosis is unclear, when warts bleed, grow fast or look unusual, or when they do not respond to treatment. An HPV test of the wart is not needed, because the result does not confirm the diagnosis or change the treatment, according to the CDC treatment guidelines.
Are genital warts dangerous?
Genital warts themselves turn into cancer only rarely, more often in people with a weak immune system. People with genital warts often carry high-risk HPV types as well, so women continue regular cervical cancer screening, and warts near the anus lead to an examination of the anal canal. In an Australian sexual health centre, about 5 percent of 1,015 people with genital warts also had chlamydia or gonorrhoea, so a test for other STDs is part of the visit.
Genital warts treatment options compared
The table compares the first-line treatments for genital warts in adults, with clearance rates from randomised trials as summarised in the European guideline for anogenital warts.
| Treatment | How it works | Clearance in trials | Common side effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen) | In clinic, every 2 weeks for up to 6 to 10 weeks | 44 to 75 percent | Blisters, temporary change in skin colour |
| Surgical excision | In clinic, under local anaesthetic | 89 to 100 percent, recurrence in up to 1 in 3 | Soreness for 1 to 4 weeks, small scar |
| Electrosurgery | In clinic, under local anaesthetic | 94 to 100 percent | More scarring and colour change than cryotherapy |
| CO2 laser | In clinic, under anaesthetic | Varies widely between studies | Pain, scarring |
| Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) | In clinic, once a week | 56 to 81 percent | Burning for a few minutes |
| Imiquimod 5% cream | At home, 3 times a week for up to 16 weeks | 35 to 75 percent, recurrence 6 to 26 percent | Redness, irritation |
| Podophyllotoxin 0.5% solution | At home, 3 days on and 4 days off for up to 4 weeks | 45 to 83 percent | Local pain, inflammation |
| Sinecatechins ointment (green tea extract) | At home, 3 times a day for up to 16 weeks | 55 percent versus 35 percent with placebo | Redness, mild burning |
In-clinic removal gives faster results than creams, which run for weeks. Small warts under 1 centimetre respond well to cryotherapy. Large or many warts respond better to excision, electrosurgery or laser, and creams treat any remaining warts afterwards. Creams suit people who prefer treatment at home and can reach every wart.
When a treatment has not cleared the warts after 6 to 10 weeks, the doctor switches to another method or combines an in-clinic treatment with a cream.
Which treatment is used in pregnancy?
During pregnancy, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is the preferred treatment for bothersome warts and laser for large warts, because both have no known effects on the baby. Podophyllotoxin and sinecatechins are not used in pregnancy, and imiquimod is avoided, according to the CDC treatment guidelines.
Do genital warts come back after removal?
Genital warts come back in some people, because HPV can remain in the skin after the visible warts are gone. Recurrence rates in trials range from 6 to 26 percent after imiquimod and up to 1 in 3 after excision. Repeating the treatment that worked the first time usually clears recurrent warts. Treatment takes longer in people with a weak immune system, for example with HIV or diabetes.
Genital warts removal at STD Clinic Dubai
A visit for genital warts at STD Clinic Dubai follows 4 steps.
- Examination. A doctor examines all areas where warts appear, including the groin and the skin around the anus, in a private consultation room.
- Diagnosis. The doctor confirms genital warts and rules out look-alikes such as pearly penile papules, molluscum contagiosum or syphilis.
- Removal plan. The doctor explains which removal method suits the size, number and location of your warts and starts treatment.
- STD check and follow-up. Tests for other STDs and a follow-up visit to confirm that the warts are gone.
Warts inside the urethra or the anal canal need a specialist examination, and the doctor refers you when needed.
Genital warts, partners and prevention
Current sexual partners benefit from an examination for warts and other STDs. Condoms lower the risk of genital warts but do not cover all skin, so HPV can still pass on. Imiquimod and sinecatechins can weaken condoms and diaphragms, so sexual contact waits while the cream is on the skin.
Vaccination against HPV prevents infection with HPV types 6 and 11 and the high-risk types linked to cancer. In the United States, after the vaccine was introduced, infections with HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 fell by 88 percent among young women aged 14 to 19.
Genital warts often cause anxiety and worry about relationships and cancer. A clear explanation of how HPV works is part of every consultation at STD Clinic Dubai.
Frequently asked questions about genital warts removal in Dubai
Short answers about treatment, pain and recurrence.
Small single warts are often removed in one session with excision or electrosurgery. Cryotherapy usually takes several sessions every 2 weeks, for up to 6 to 10 weeks.
Cryotherapy causes a short burning pain during treatment. Excision, electrosurgery and laser take place under local anaesthetic, and the area stays sore for about 1 to 4 weeks after excision.
About 1 in 3 genital warts disappears without treatment within 4 months, but warts can also grow or spread, so doctors offer treatment to everyone with genital warts.
Yes. HPV can stay in the skin after visible warts are gone, so warts come back in some people. Repeating the treatment that worked the first time usually clears them again.
No. HPV can stay silent for 3 weeks to 8 months before warts appear, so a new wart does not show when the infection happened.
No. A doctor diagnoses genital warts by examination. An HPV test of the wart does not confirm the diagnosis or change the treatment.
Sexual contact waits while imiquimod, podophyllotoxin or sinecatechins are on the skin, and imiquimod and sinecatechins can weaken condoms. Partners benefit from their own check for warts and other STDs.
Book your appointment
Send your name and contact details, and the clinic gets back to you to arrange your visit in Dubai Healthcare City.
Request an appointment
Your details are used only to answer your enquiry.
Related guides
Sources
- Anogenital Warts: STI Treatment Guidelines (2021), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Gilson R, et al. 2019 IUSTI-Europe guideline for the management of anogenital warts. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020.