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<div class="HwContainer HwElement" id="HwContainer"><a class="HwMainSkipNavigation" href="#HwContentTitle"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Skip Navigation</span></a><div class="HwBlock" id="HwMain" role="main"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"> </div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"> </div><div class="HwTypeSurgicalDetail HwContentWrapper HwElement" role="article" id="HwContentWrapper"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"> </div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a> </p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle" tabindex="-1">Electrocautery for Genital Warts</h1></div><div class="HwContentTopNavigation"> </div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-tw3530"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="323f2320" fingerprint-exact="258236d1">Surgery Overview</h2> <p fingerprint="72068a9e" fingerprint-exact="870ccac3">Electrocautery removes <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stg124286" data-hw-section="stg124286-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stg124286" data-hwid="stg124286" hw:section-href="stg124286-sec" href="?id=stg124286#stg124286-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">genital warts</span></a> on the penis, vulva, or around the anus by burning them with a low-voltage electrified probe.</p> <p fingerprint="14a9169c" fingerprint-exact="be5d641e">Electrocautery is usually done in a doctor's office or a clinic. The injection of a numbing medicine (<a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stl17244" data-hw-section="stl17244-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stl17244" data-hwid="stl17244" hw:section-href="stl17244-sec" href="?id=stl17244#stl17244-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">local anesthetic</span></a>) is usually used for pain control. Medicine that causes unconsciousness (<a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stg17243" data-hw-section="stg17243-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stg17243" data-hwid="stg17243" hw:section-href="stg17243-sec" href="?id=stg17243#stg17243-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">general anesthetic</span></a>) may be used depending on the number of warts to be removed or destroyed.</p> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-tw3535"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="tw3535" id="anchor-tw3535" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="f0ca2bcd" fingerprint-exact="aa9e9669">What To Expect</h2> <p fingerprint="236b0c66" fingerprint-exact="4aa55544">The recovery time depends on the location and number of warts removed. </p> <ul fingerprint="48e4de72" fingerprint-exact="514eaac4"> <li>After surgery you may have some pain, swelling, and redness. </li> <li>Healing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. </li> <li>Healing may take longer if a large area of tissue is burned. </li> <li>Treatment may leave scars.</li> </ul> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-tw3541"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="tw3541" id="anchor-tw3541" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="3d5095ef" fingerprint-exact="55cd7304">Why It Is Done</h2> <p fingerprint="b0f2e6af" fingerprint-exact="3b422a5c">Electrocautery removes warts with little blood loss. It usually is used for small areas of warts. </p> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-tw3543"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="tw3543" id="anchor-tw3543" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="f5001b9d" fingerprint-exact="74f07377">How Well It Works</h2> <p fingerprint="081c7075" fingerprint-exact="cac7598d">Electrocautery often works to remove warts. But warts may grow back.</p> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-acl5277"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="acl5277" id="anchor-acl5277" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="a566bce5" fingerprint-exact="1aacb8d8">Risks</h2> <p fingerprint="8ad527f8" fingerprint-exact="671db0d5">Risks of electrocautery are: </p> <ul fingerprint="c184dbc9" fingerprint-exact="bef7b93e"> <li>Bleeding. Blood loss is usually minimal, because the electrocautery seals blood vessels as it removes warts. </li> <li>Infection. Antibiotics may be given at the time of the procedure to reduce the risk of infection. </li> <li>Pain. Medicine may be needed for several days after the electrocautery procedure. </li> </ul> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwCreditsSection HwCreditsWithoutNavstack HwSectionCredits" id="sec-tw3527-Credits"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="tw3527-Credits" id="anchor-tw3527-Credits" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Credits</h2><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span> May 5, 2025</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff</span></a><br><span><b><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">Clinical Review Board</span></a></b></span><br>All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team 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includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar2"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationTop"> </div><div class="HwElement" id="HwNavigationWrapper"><div class="HwNavigation" id="HwNavigation" role="navigation"><h3 class="HwNavStackHeader" id="HwNavStackHeader">Topic Contents</h3><ul aria-labelledby="HwNavStackHeader"><li id="nav-tw3530"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="tw3527" data-hw-section="tw3530" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="tw3527" data-hwid="tw3527" hw:section-href="tw3530" href="?id=tw3527#tw3530">Surgery Overview</a></li><li id="nav-tw3535"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="tw3527" data-hw-section="tw3535" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="tw3527" data-hwid="tw3527" hw:section-href="tw3535" href="?id=tw3527#tw3535">What To Expect</a></li><li id="nav-tw3541"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="tw3527" data-hw-section="tw3541" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="tw3527" data-hwid="tw3527" hw:section-href="tw3541" href="?id=tw3527#tw3541">Why It Is Done</a></li><li id="nav-tw3543"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="tw3527" data-hw-section="tw3543" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="tw3527" data-hwid="tw3527" hw:section-href="tw3543" href="?id=tw3527#tw3543">How Well It Works</a></li><li id="nav-acl5277"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="tw3527" data-hw-section="acl5277" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="tw3527" data-hwid="tw3527" hw:section-href="acl5277" href="?id=tw3527#acl5277">Risks</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="HwNavigationWrapper HwNavigationEmpty"> </div><div class="HwCustom" 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