The Concerns and Treatments of Genital Warts during Pregnancy

Having genital warts during pregnancy is definitely a source of worry and frustration for a lot of expectant mothers. This is because it puts the baby at a huge risk of contracting the infection. Moreover, there is a chance that genital warts can be spread from the mother to the newborn baby when he/she passes through an infected birth canal.

Genital warts are mainly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). A lot of pregnant women who have gotten infected with the virus and have previously contracted genital warts usually experience healthy pregnancies and have smooth birthing processes. Unfortunately, the virus can be spread from a woman with genital warts to the unborn child not only during birth through an infected birth canal, but also before birth. However, the good news is that even if genital warts don't have a cure yet, they do not have any major harmful side effects to the health of your baby during your pregnancy.

A major concern regarding contracting genital warts is that based on the location of the bumps, they may result in several complications during the birthing process. The fact that they have genital warts automatically makes vaginal birth not feasible for them. There are some cases wherein the bumps have grown so big that they end up blocking the birth canal and result in a difficult delivery on the part of the mother.

In addition, as the infant descends through the birth canal, the genital warts obstructing the path may bleed. If it has been determined that the genital warts will completely hinder the birthing process or if there is a possibility that excessive bleeding may occur, a caesarean section becomes the delivery method of choice.

A second concern is that the unborn infant of a woman who has genital warts may get laryngeal papillomatosis, which is a very dangerous condition. It can be fatal in some cases. The symptoms of this life-threatening illness can be dormant for a long period following birth, sometimes as long as three years. Laryngeal papillomatosis is a medical condition wherein warts appear in and around the throat and mouth area of the infant.

This disease may be contracted when the virus gets spread through an infected birth canal. Since the throat and mouth areas are both moist and warm, they make for a conducive breeding environment for HPV.

If the infant does become sick with laryngeal papillomatosis, he/she is required to undergo laser surgery on a regular basis in order to eliminate the warts that could obstruct his/her air passages. Another treatment method is interferon therapy. This could be sued alongside laser surgery in order to slow down the multiplication of the HPV and treat the warts.

The treatment methods for genital warts for expectant mothers are different from what is prescribed for other people. Pregnant women are not allowed to use any over-the-counter medications for genital warts without consulting a doctor. Almost all of these over-the-counter genital warts treatments contain salicylic acid, which will have a negative effect to the unborn baby when it is applied. In addition, other prescription treatments, such as pondofilox, may bring about birth defects because their chemical ingredients are easily absorbed by the skin.

If you suspect that you are pregnant and you think that you have genital warts, you should visit your obstetrician. After doing the proper diagnosis, he/she will recommend the appropriate action plan that is safe and effective for you and your little one. n