Condoms
Using condoms (male or female) every time you have vaginal or anal sex is the most effective way to avoid getting genital warts, other than being celibate (not having sex) or getting vaccinated (see below).
If you have oral sex, cover the penis with a condom. A dental dam, which is a latex or polyurethane (plastic) square, can be used to cover the anal area or female genitals. Dental dams are usually only available at genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics, although your local pharmacist may be able to order some for you.
Avoid sharing sex toys. However, if you do share them, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
Following these measures will also help to protect you from getting a number of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
The Gardasil vaccine
The Gardasil vaccine provides protection against the main strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that are known to cause cervical cancer and genital warts.
The vaccine is estimated to be 99% effective in preventing genital warts in young men and women. However, after being vaccinated, it is thought that a person’s immunity will gradually start to reduce after six years.
While vaccination does provide a very good level of protection against genital warts, it does not protect against other STIs. Therefore, the procedure should not be seen as a substitute for using a condom.
Gardasil is not part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule and it is not usually available free of charge on the NHS. If you want yourself, or your child, to be vaccinated against genital warts it is likely that you will have to pay to have the vaccine privately.
The cost is around £140 to £180 a dose and three doses are required. Some private vaccine clinics offer a discount if you pay for the entire course in advance.
There is a specific schedule for vaccination with Gardasil. The second dose should be given at least one month after the first dose. The third dose should be given at least three months after the second dose. All three doses should be given within a 12-month period.
The vaccination is injected directly into the muscles, either into the upper arm or the thigh.
Common side effects of Gardasil include:
- pain, redness, bruising and swelling at the site of the injection
- flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature and joint and muscle pain
