Warts in the throat or oropharynx can be quite bothersome, to the point of causing problems with breathing or swallowing.
For this reason, when they appear in abundance, it is advisable to remove them… But this is not an easy task, as they are warts located on mucous membranes, tissues more sensitive than skin.
In this brief article, we will tell you more about throat warts, their implications, and possible treatments to eliminate them.
Índice
How are these warts removed?
As we mentioned at the beginning, treating these warts is more complicated because they are associated with mucous membranes and not with the skin.
Warts in the oropharynx should not be treated at home with over-the-counter medications or home remedies.
The appropriate thing is to go to a doctor, an otolaryngologist or dentist, to assess the extent of the warts and tell you what is the most suitable treatment.
Generally (in cases that warrant it), warts are treated with one of the following procedures:
- Cryosurgery.
- Electrocautery.
- Laser surgery.
In some cases, the doctor might opt for the use of medication, but it will largely depend on the exact location of the wart. The further back in the throat, the less feasible it is to apply pharmacological treatment.
Also, in some cases, the doctor will not treat them, but will give you instructions to boost your immune system so that it takes care of eliminating the virus and, along with it, the throat warts.
Why do warts appear in the throat? What causes them?
These warts appear when you are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Given the location of the warts, it is most likely that the virus was contracted through oral sex.
HPV is an STI (sexually transmitted infection), meaning it is transmitted through sexual contact.
Vaginal and anal sex usually generate warts in the genitals and anus, while oral sex is responsible for the appearance of warts in the mouth and throat in almost 100% of cases.
There are other possible less common non-sexual routes of transmission, such as profuse exchange of saliva with an infected person or shared use of contaminated objects.
Throat HPV and its association with oropharyngeal cancer
If you’ve done some research about throat HPV on the internet, you’ll see that it has a strong relationship with oropharyngeal cancer.
It’s normal to be a bit alarmed, but the situation is not as bad as you think… The throat is affected by three types of HPV: 6, 11, and 16.
But only one of them is considered high risk because it causes cancer in 2/3 of the infected people. The really dangerous one is HPV 16.
This means that just because you have warts in your throat doesn’t necessarily mean you’re at risk of developing cancer. In fact, if it’s the 6 and 11 variants, almost 100% of cases are resolved within a couple of years due to the action of the immune system.
These were some tips to help you know how to deal with HPV. However, there is much more you need to do if you really want to get rid of HPV and warts forever.
What you need to do is GET RID OF THE ROOT of the problem.
For that reason, I recommend you to look into Dr. Kirkland's story and how he was able to cure HPV and get rid of warts for good.
I wish you great success in your recovery!
Sources:
- https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/ear-nose-throat/respiratory-papilloma
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15010-oropharyngeal-human-papilloma-virus-hpv-infection
- https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/basic_info/hpv_oropharyngeal.htm
Medically reviewed by Dr. John Wellington. Dr. John Wellington is a board-certified physician specializing in urology. With over 15 years of experience, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge through a popular health blog. Dr. Wellington holds an MD from Ivy League University and is a member of prestigious medical associations.
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