HPV Treatment for Pregnant Women

The human papillomavirus is a condition affecting epidermis and the mucous membranes of human beings. This condition can lead to a variety of cancers in the body including the cervix, vagina and anus. HPV is often diagnosed by the appearance of warts around the genitals and anus. HPV has not been linked to premature birth or severe complication and transmission of the condition to a child during birth is rare. Pregnant women who have HPV need special care.

Waiting

• Doctors will be hesitant to treat HPV in women who are pregnant unless high-risk HPV is found. High-risk HPV may cause cervical cancer. The doctor will monitor the patient during the pregnancy to see if there are any abnormalities in the cervical tissue. The doctor will attempt to withhold treatment of the HPV if possible because drugs used to treat HPV, such as Imiquimod and Podofilox, may cause premature birth, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Testing

• The healthcare provider will perform tests to make sure the HPV is not cancerous. A colposcopy may be performed. A colposcopy is where a small electric microscope is inserted into the vagina and cervix to look for tumors. A biopsy, where a small amount of tissue is taken from the cervix, will also be performed. If there is no sign of cancer after these tests there are few genital warts, treatment will be postponed until after birth.

Surgical Procedure

• Genital warts that are are large and may obstruct the birth of a child they will need to be removed. Genital warts can be removed by surgical procedure called excision. Excision is where the genital warts are removed using a scalpel. A local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area before the procedure. Recovery takes one to three days and scarring may occur.

  Liquid nitrogen and acid can also be used to remove the warts. Laser procedures and electrosurgery, where the warts are shocked until they die, are the most popular methods of removing warts today, according to the Mayo Clinic.