Genital warts (condylomata acuminata or venereal warts) are a viral, contagious and sexually transmitted disease. Only few variants of HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV) are known to cause the disease. Most of the HPV variants are harmless, however some are know to cause warts on other parts of the body. HPV infection is more common and problematic in women than in men.

Laser surgery is not cost effective when compared to other conventional modes of treatment. But it is inevitable when other medications fail or when warts are wide spread, or in case of pregnancy.

Laser surgery for genital warts is proved to be effective. Laser surgery in which a high intensity beam of light is used to destroy the warts, in this case CO2 laser is used to incise the warts.

Laser surgery for genital warts is a safe mode of treatment in case of pregnancy, as topical treatment is not advisable. About 31-94% success rate has been reported. However in 60-70% of the cases the warts reappear. Laser surgery does not eradicate the virus, and the virus is present in the body in an inactive state. However the body's immune system may take 1-2 years to get rid of the virus completely.

Laser surgery is carried out by health professional, under local or general anesthesia, depending on the number and size of the wart. A patient should also consider the health professional's success rate before undergoing the treatment. An advantage of using Laser surgery for genital warts is that the adjacent normal tissue and deep tissues are not damaged and it does not cause scarring. It affects only the targeted tissues.

Smoke evacuation methods and masks are essential for the treatment because the smoke generated during the laser therapy may carry viral particles thus may infect the surrounding people.

The Chief risk with laser surgery for genital wart is pain, sometimes discharge from vagina or penis, swelling, itching, thermal damage to adjacent tissue and scaring.

To prevent the recurrence of the warts, the warts are treated with fluorouracil before and after the laser treatment.

A person treated for genital warts may still be able to spread the infection. As the disease is contagious, direct contact with the virus should be avoided. Condoms during intercourse will reduce the risk of infection, but will not eliminate the risk of transmission. The best way is to practice abstinence during this period until totally recovered.