A never-ending story of anogenital warts: Review article

Abstract

© 2020 Medical Association of Thailand. All rights reserved. Anogenital wart (AGW) has long been one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, which has negative effects on psychological and social issues. Its slowly progressive nature and long dormant stage prevent AGW from elimination. Although diagnosis is as simple as inspection using the naked eyes or a magnifying glass and basic medical treatment is the main treatment modality, the long period of clinical response appears to be the biggest challenge. Many patients suffer from this non-fatal disease for over half a year. Onward transmission obviously continues during the occurrence of lesions. Primary prevention, particularly vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV vaccine), is an ideal method. HPV vaccine is a promising method; however, its high cost limits wide accessibility. In addition, despite being vaccinated, some women present with AGW. Therefore, a never-ending story of AGW remains to be explored. The Siriraj Female STI Clinic, which has over 20 years of experience in treating women with AGW, would like to share some experience so that these patients will be treated with more understanding.