Female genital warts: global trends and treatments

Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2001;9(3):149-54. doi: 10.1155/S1064744901000278.

Abstract

The increasing incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV-associated conditions such as genital warts in women is a global concern. Genital warts are a clinical manifestation of HPV types 6 and 11, and are estimated to affect 1% of sexually active adults aged between 15 and 49. HPV infection is also strongly associated with cervical cancer, and is prevalent in as many as 99% of cases. The psychological stress of having genital warts is often greater than the morbidity of the disease, and therefore successful treatment is crucial. Current treatments are patient-applied and provider-administered therapies. Imiquimod 5% cream, a patient-applied therapy, is an efficacious treatment with tolerable side-effects and a low recurrence rate, and has the potential to be an effective strategy for the management of genital warts.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
  • Aminoquinolines / therapeutic use*
  • Condylomata Acuminata / complications
  • Condylomata Acuminata / epidemiology*
  • Condylomata Acuminata / psychology
  • Condylomata Acuminata / therapy
  • Female
  • Global Health
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Imiquimod
  • Incidence
  • Papillomavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Papillomavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / etiology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Aminoquinolines
  • Imiquimod