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Aldara Cream,
Genital Wart Treatment
Information
Genital warts, human
papilloma virus, HPV are
all synonymous for a
sexually transmitted
disease, STD that has a
wart like appearance on
both male and female
genitalia.
Genital warts are a
sexually transmitted
infection caused by a
virus called the human
papilloma virus (HPV).
Genital warts are the
most common complaint
diagnosed at sexually
transmitted diseases
clinics in the UK,
accounting for
approximately one fifth
of all diagnoses. During
the late 1990s, there
was a rising incidence
of genital warts in the
UK, affecting both men
and women, though
younger people tend to
be more frequently
affected, anyone who is
sexually active may be
exposed to the genital
wart virus.
The genital wart virus
can be contracted during
unprotected vaginal,
anal or oral sex. The
virus can also be
transmitted by close
physical contact with
the genital warts
themselves, as these may
shed the wart virus.
Using a condom for anal,
vaginal, or oral sex
offers a degree of
protection from
infection with genital
warts, or from passing
on the virus to somebody
else. Individuals who
are sexually active are
advised to have regular
sexual health exams,
where genital warts can
be diagnosed if present,
and tests for other
sexually transmitted
infections performed.
Many individuals believe
that they are are not at
any significant risk for
sexually transmitted
diseases including
genital warts. However,
any individual who is
sexually active can
contract the virus.
Especially those
individuals who fall
into the following
categories:
-
Have had more
than one sex
partner
-
Have ever had
unprotected sex
-
Have had sexual
intercourse
prior to the age
of 21
-
Do not know
their partner's
sexual history
-
Have had an
abnormal Pap
smear
-
Have symptoms
such as warts,
burning, redness
or sores in the
genital area
Genital warts look just
like warts which may
appear on other parts of
the body ? usually small
nodules with a slightly
rough texture. Some
individuals that
contract the human
papilloma virus do not
have symptoms, or else
do not notice the
presence of warts. In
women, warts may appear
on the inside or outside
of the vagina, or on the
neck of the cervix, or
around the anus. In men,
warts may appear on the
tip or shaft of the
penis, or around the
anus.
Some forms of the
genital warts virus are
associated with an
increased risk of
cervical or anal cancer.
However, these are not
the commonest form of
the virus. Strains 16,
18, 31, 33 and 35 are
more strongly associated
with the development of
genital cancers.
Therefore, it is
important for women who
have genital warts to
have a yearly pap smear.
A Pap smear is a
procedure designed to
detect pre-cancerous
cellular changes called
dysplasia early, before
cancer develops.
Fortunately There is an
Effective Genital Wart
Treatment
Fortunately, there is
now a prescription
topical cream, Aldara,
that can effectively
treat genital warts.
Aldara is different from
most other treatments,
the patient-applied
cream helps the body's
own immune system to
fight the virus instead
of just excising the
wart. Therefore, Aldara
cream essentially treats
genital warts from the
inside out.
More doctors recommend
Aldara for the treatment
of Genital Warts, Human
Papilloma Virus, HPV
than any other
treatment.
The following Aldara
cream information
section has been
compiled from a variety
of resources in order to
give you an overview of
how Aldara cream acts as
an effective genital
wart treatment:
Why is Aldara
prescribed?
Aldara Cream is
indicated for the
topical treatment of ano
genital warts (external
genital warts and
perianal warts).
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Aldara cream topics
Why is Aldara
sometimes called
imiquimod?
Imiquimodis the generic
name for Aldara. The
generic name represents
the medications
nonproprietary or
chemical name, whereas,
the brand name is the
name a pharmaceutical
give to a medication for
marketing purposes.
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Aldara cream topics
How does Aldara
work?
External genital and
perianal warts are cause
by a virus called Human
Papilloma Virus. These
wart-like growths are
oftentimes referred to
as condyloma acuminata.
While Aldara itself has
not been demonstrated to
have any of its own
antiviral activity,
Aldara cream is an
immune response modifier
that stimulates the
body's own immune
response system and
helps the body fight
this virus. It may do
this via the induction
of cytokines like
alpha-interferon.
Alpha-interferon is a
complex compound
normally produced by the
human body that does
have potent antiviral
activity.
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How do you apply
Aldara?
Please adhere to the
following instructions
when applying Aldara:
-
Wash your hands
before and after
using the medicine
-
Use the medicine
only as directed by
your physician .
-
Allow medicine to
stay on skin for 6
to 10 hours, then
wash area thoroughly
with soap and water.
-
Throw out any unused
cream from the
single-dose packet.
-
Do not apply an
occlusive dressing
(airtight covering,
such as kitchen
plastic wrap) over
the medicine, unless
told to do so by
your physician
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Aldara cream topics
What is the
appropriate dose of
Aldara?
The appropriate dose of
Aldara will be different
for different patients.
Follow your physicians
instructions when using
Aldara. The following
information includes
only the average doses
of Aldara. If your dose
is different, do not
change it unless your
physician instructs you
to do so.
Apply to the wart(s) two
times a day for three
days in a row using an
applicator tip or
finger. Skip four days
by not applying any
medicine for four days
in a row. If the wart
can still be seen, this
application cycle may be
repeated each week for
up to four weeks, until
the wart is gone. No
more than 0.5 grams of
gel should be used each
day of treatment.
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Aldara cream topics
What if I miss a
dose of Aldara?
If you miss a dose of
Aldara, wait until the
next evening to apply
it. Then go back to your
regular dosing schedule.
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How long does it
take for the genital
warts to clear up once I
have used Aldara?
-
Time to total
clearance was as
early as 2 weeks for
females and 4 weeks
for males
-
Median time to
complete clearance
was 5 weeks for
females and 7 weeks
for males
-
Patients who
cleared, 93%
exhibited a response
to therapy within 4
weeks
-
More than 95% of
patients experienced
reductions in target
wart area.
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Aldara cream topics
Is there
anything specific I
should know if I am
using Aldara?
While using Aldara
individuals should be
aware of the following:
-
Sexual (genital,
anal or oral)
contact should be
avoided. If you
decide to have
sexual relations,
apply Aldara cream
after, not before,
sexual activity. If
you have already
applied the cream,
it should be washed
off before sexual
activity.
-
Aldara cream may
weaken condoms and
diaphragms,
therefore the cream
should be washed off
before using a
condom or diaphragm
during sexual
activity.
-
The effect of Aldara
cream on the
transmission of
genital warts is not
known.
-
Do not cover warts
with bandages or
other dressings
after you have
applied Aldara
cream.
-
Uncircumcised men
with warts under the
foreskin should pull
the foreskin back
each day and wash
underneath it. If
daily washing under
the foreskin is not
carried out,
tightness of the
foreskin may occur.
Early signs of
tightness include
swelling and wearing
away of the skin, or
difficulty in
pulling back the
foreskin. If these
symptoms occur, stop
the treatment
immediately and call
your doctor.
-
Do not use more than
the recommended
amount of Aldara
cream. A thin layer
that completely
covers the wart is
enough.
-
Stop using Aldara
cream if you become
pregnant, and do not
use if you are
breastfeeding.
-
Aldara cream has
been prescribed for
your use only. Do
not give it to
anyone else even if
you think their
condition is the
same as yours.
Good News, in a few
short weeks Aldara will
treat your genital
warts.
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Should Aldara be used if
you are pregnant or
breastfeeding?
If you are pregnant,
intend to become
pregnant or
breastfeeding do not use
this medication. If you
become pregnant you
should contact your
physician immediately.
Clinical testing has not
been done to establish
whether the medication
is present in the breast
milk.
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Aldara cream topics
Aldara
Genital Wart Treatment
Conclusions
Aldara has been
proven in numerous clinical
studies to both remove the
genital wart and prevent the
spread of further genital warts.
Doctors recommend Aldara more
than another genital wart (HPV)
treatment. Cure your genital
warts with just a few Aldara
applications.
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Aldara
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