Condyloma acuminatum are warts that occur in or around the anus. They also can appear on your genitals. Like all warts, condylomas originate with strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
In many cases, anal warts display few or no symptoms, but when they do, you could experience bleeding, discharge, itching, and lumps in the anal area. When a condyloma is symptomatic, contact Colorado Colon & Rectal Specialists in Parker, Colorado, for examination and treatment.
Dr. Lisa Perryman, FACS, FASCRS, can recommend the treatment that best matches your condition. While rare, anal warts can progress into a precancerous condition called anal intraepithelial neoplasia, so you may want screening if you’re aware of asymptomatic anal warts.
Warts result from infection from some strains of HPV, of which there are over 100. HPV types 6 and 11 account for most cases of anal warts.
Anal warts usually result from unprotected sexual contact with an infected partner. Once you’re infected with HPV, you’ll always have the virus, which you can spread to others. While infection with HPV can’t be cured, it can be controlled or treated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend HPV vaccinations for people between 11 and 26, and, in certain cases, for patients older than 26. HPV vaccines protect against multiple types of HPVs.
Condylomas could have a bumpy appearance similar to cauliflower, or they could be flat. Their color is usually similar to the surrounding skin, but they may be lighter, usually white or white-gray.
Sometimes, anal warts form inside your anus, so you could have them without knowing you do. Condylomas usually start out as small, soft growths that grow larger or sometimes cluster in groups.
You can develop warts within weeks of infection, although in most cases it takes months or even years before warts form. Some people may be infected but remain wart-free.
We recommend removing any existing anal warts as well as follow-up care to guard against future occurrences. Dr. Perryman examines you to determine the best course of treatment.
Nonsurgical approaches for the treatment of condylomas typically use topical methods. These can include:
You may need more than one treatment to remove all existing warts, and new warts can form at any time.
Dr. Perryman may recommend surgery to remove warts if they are located inside the anus, are plentiful, or are too large to treat topically. Surgery is an outpatient procedure that may need to be repeated to eliminate all warts.
Make an appointment with Colorado Colon & Rectal Specialists to learn more about the treatments for condyloma. You can book an appointment online or call our office directly.
