Anal warts for 3.5 years...

Hi,

I'm a 29 year old male, straight, HIV-negative male who was diagnosed with HPV of the anus 3.5 years ago.  Here are my questions:

1. Typically, how long will it take for the warts to go into remission?  I've heard conflicting information from my urologist who said it will be a life-long issue.  However, my dermatologist and posts here state that warts typically clear within 5 years?  What is your opinion and are there any studies showing that warts clear within 5 years?

2. Again, I've heard conflicting information regarding whether or not HPV anal warts will lead to cancer, specifically prostate cancer.  What is your opinion?

3. Lastly, what are your thoughts on the new HPV vaccine's possibly being used as a treatment for infected individuals?  As a male could I eventually seek this as a treatment option?

Thanks for your time.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

1.  All one can do is generalize.  No way to know in the individual case.  Warts can indeed recur years after going away, either spontaneously or with treatment.  No way to prevent.
2.  I have never heard of a relationship of HPV with prostate cancer.  The risk of anal cancer is small.  Regular examinations are needed, in any case.
3.  I don;t know enough about the new vaccine to be able to counsel you on this.

Best

Dr. Rockoff

[Jabber]

I kenw a person who had warts.  I would have the warts frozen off.  This seemed to provide the best result.  After a few visits of doing this, they were gone.  It has been over 12 years since this person has been wart free.  The doctor said chances are he has built up antibodies and wil not get them ever again.  Make sure you are having protected sex because if a your girlfirend gets infected, her chance of cancer I think increases by over 50%. Don't get discouraged and keep up the self examinations if you are doing them and if not you should be.