Genital warts treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes. In most cases, a genital warts diagnosis can be made by describing the warts or by a doctor on Maple evaluating their appearance.

A doctor may sometimes request a biopsy on one of the warts, depending on your medical history, the shape, size or colour of the warts and unpleasant symptoms you may be experiencing. They can also write necessary prescriptions for genital wart medications.

If you aren’t experiencing any discomfort, genital warts treatment may not be necessary; unless you’re concerned about spreading the infection to another partner or for cosmetic purposes.

Maple can assist with treatment of genital warts for cosmetic purposes and to help decrease the spread to other areas.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Genital warts are soft growths that appear on the genitals or both men and women. They can appear individually, or grow in small clusters.

The warts are a symptom of the sexually transmitted infection, HPV (human papillomavirus).

Genital wart symptoms include:

• Bleeding during sexual intercourse
• Itching, burning or discomfort in your genital area
• Small brown, pink or flesh-coloured growths or swellings in your genital area
• A cauliflower shape caused by numerous warts growing close together

Genital warts are a symptom caused by many of the different types of HPV.

There are over 40 strains of HPV that affect the genital area and genital warts are almost always spread through direct sexual contact with partners.

If our doctor isn’t able to make a diagnosis based on description or appearance, they may have to do additional testing, which can vary between men and women.

Genital warts in men are frequently diagnosed by the doctor performing an HPV test using a vinegar solution to help identify warts that aren’t raised. However, this test isn’t always accurate, as ordinary skin can occasionally be mistaken for warts.

For genital warts in female patients, the doctor may suggest a pap test to help detect changes in the vaginal or cervical areas. Some forms of HPV, if left untreated, have been linked as a cause of cervical cancer in women.

At this time there is no routine testing available for gay or bisexual men who are at a higher risk of anal cancer due to HPV. Some doctors are urging for anal PAPs to check for abnormalities, but at this time it is not approved in Canada.

In women over 30, the doctor may suggest an HPV test on the PAP smear. Although, due to the current Ontario Cervical Screening Guidelines, women under 30 aren’t usually given this test.

If the doctor wishes to do additional testing on the genital warts, they may request a biopsy. Maple is able to assist with diagnosing and treating genital warts for both men and women of any age.

Genital warts treatment typically involves applying creams, resins and in some cases, chemicals to burn off the warts.

For particularly difficult to remove warts, other more invasive treatments include:

• Laser treatments (using focused beams of light to burn off the wart)
• Surgical excision (cut off by the doctor using special tools)
• Freezing with liquid nitrogen (causing a blister to form and the wart to fall off)
• Electrocautery (using electrical current to burn off the wart)

These methods are considered surgical options, and could cause side effects such as swelling, pain and scarring.

Depending on the severity of your infection, and the type of HPV that has been contracted, the warts could go away without treatment.

However, because there is no true genital warts cure, they could also return again in the future.

In some cases, genital warts can be painful. If you begin to experience pain, itching or burning around the infected area, it’s recommended to talk to a doctor about genital wart treatment options.

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists via secure text, audio or video call. Sign in to your Maple account to start a visit. Learn more about how Maple works here.

A visit works a lot like an in-person appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and recommend a treatment plan that's right for you. Sometimes, you might need to see someone in person. When that happens, we'll help you figure out what comes next.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to care online. Connect with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners in minutes via secure text, audio or video call.

Membership is $85/month. One membership, care for your whole family. In eligible provinces, membership includes:

• Daily visits: one visit a day with a doctor or nurse practitioner for each family member in your household
• Paediatric care: covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment
• Second Medical Opinion: when you're unsure about a complex diagnosis, like cancer or MS, or want to understand all your options, you and your family can access an expert Second Medical Opinion
• Personal Health Check-Ins: personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to help you stay on top of your health
• iCBT courses: internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy self-assessments and courses
• Specialists: see a specialist in days, not months. No referral necessary.
• Specialist referrals: a referral to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed

Membership can't be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. A Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) may cover your membership fees. Check with your HSA provider for details.

Your Maple monthly membership covers virtual care for you, your spouse and your dependents under the age of 18 who share the same primary residence. Full disclaimer and refund policy here.

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Our policies and consent processes are simple and easy to understand, so you stay in control. Strong security infrastructure and strict data policies protect every session. You keep control of your personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. We also work with leading experts and review our policies regularly.

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