Small bumps around the genitals

Many female friends consulted the editor and said that they found small bumps around their genitals. In fact, in this case, it is very likely that you are suffering from a disease called genital warts. Genital warts are a disease that occurs mainly through sexual contact and is contagious to a certain extent. So after discovering this, it is recommended that you go to the gynecology department for a check-up. If it is confirmed that it is genital warts, treatment should be started promptly.

Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with proliferative lesions in the anal and genital area as the main manifestation. Most cases occur in young and middle-aged people aged 18 to 50. The disease occurs after an incubation period of about half a month to eight months, with an average of three months. This disease is relatively common and is mainly transmitted through sexual contact.

The treatment of genital warts must adopt comprehensive treatment.

1. Treat the cause (foreskin is too long, vaginitis, balanitis, gonorrhea, etc.).

2. Improve the body's immunity.

3. Chemotherapy

(1) 0.5% podophyllotoxin tincture (or 0.15% cream) is suitable for the treatment of genital warts with a diameter of ≤10mm, with a clinical cure rate of about 90%. The total wart area should not exceed 10cm2, and the total daily medication should not exceed 0.5ml. After application, the topical medication should be allowed to dry naturally. The main side effects are local irritation, which may include itching, burning pain, redness, swelling, erosion and necrosis. In addition, this drug is teratogenic and should not be used by pregnant women.

(2) 5% imiquimod cream is used to treat genital warts, with an average wart clearance rate of 56%. The advantage of this therapy is the low recurrence rate, which is about 13%. The appearance of erythema is not an indication for discontinuation of medication, but the appearance of erosion or damage requires discontinuation of medication and a follow-up visit. The doctor will treat the wound and decide whether to continue the medication. Side effects are mainly local irritation, which may include itching, burning pain, erythema, and erosion. The safety of imiquimod during pregnancy has not been established and it is contraindicated in pregnant women.

(3) 80% to 90% trichloroacetic acid or dichloroacetic acid must be treated by a doctor. When using, apply a small amount of liquid medicine on the wart lesion and wait for it to dry. At this time, a layer of white frost will form on the surface. During treatment, care should be taken to protect the surrounding normal skin and mucous membranes. If there is an excess of topical medication, talcum powder, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or liquid soap can be applied to neutralize excess, unreacted acid. This medicine should not be used for hyperkeratosis or large, multiple, or extensive warts. Adverse reactions include local irritation, redness, swelling, erosion, etc.

4. Cryotherapy

Using liquid nitrogen at a low temperature of -196℃, the freezing method is used to treat genital warts, which promotes the necrosis and shedding of wart tissue. The operation is simple, efficient, and easy for patients to tolerate. This method is suitable for condyloma acuminatum with a small number and small area. It can be treated 1 to 2 times with an interval of one week.

5. Laser treatment

Usually CO2 laser is used to treat genital warts by cauterization. Single or a small number of warts can be treated once, while multiple or large warts can be treated 2 to 3 times, with an interval of one week generally.

6. Electrocautery

Use high-frequency electroacupuncture or electrosurgery to remove warts. This therapy is suitable for warts with small number and small area.

7. Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT therapy)

This method can selectively kill vigorously proliferating cells, not only destroying condyloma acuminatum visible to the naked eye, but also clearing subclinical lesions and latently infected tissues. It has the advantages of high cure rate, low recurrence rate, few and mild adverse reactions, and good patient compliance.

8. Surgery

Suitable for giant genital warts, for removal of the warts in whole or in batches.

9. Immunotherapy

It is not recommended to be used alone, but can be used as an auxiliary treatment and to prevent recurrence. Interferon can be injected intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or at the base of the lesion, interleukin-2 can be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly, and polycytokines can be injected intramuscularly.