Genital Warts Follow-Up
After visible genital warts have cleared, a follow-up evaluation is not mandatory but may be helpful.
Patients should be cautioned to watch for recurrences, which occur most frequently during the first 3 months.
Because the sensitivity and specificity of self-diagnosis of genital warts are unknown, patients concerned about recurrences should be offered a follow-up evaluation 3 months after treatment.
Earlier follow-up visits also may be useful for some patients to document the absence of warts, to monitor for or treat complications of therapy, and to provide an additional opportunity for patient education and counseling.
Women should be counseled to undergo regular Pap screening as recommended for women without genital warts. The presence of genital warts is not an indication for a change in the frequency of Pap tests or for cervical colposcopy.
|
