Another Genital Wart Question

[SlightlyPeeved]

Thanks for hearing me out,

Basically here's my problem.  Almost exactly a year ago I looked down at my hands only to notice approximately 20 warts (spread out on all fingers and on both hands).  I promptly went to the dermatologist and had the growths frozen with liquid nitrogen.  These warts proved to be particularly persistant and aggressive, I went back for multiple treatments (again having approximately 20 warts frozen each time, all located in different spots but all on the back of my hands and fingers).  These warts still persist today, but a few weeks after they appear the skin appears to peel and flake and the growths soon dissappear (and have reduced in number to maybe three or four at a time).  The dermatologist told me that eventually with the freezing your immune system will kick in and begin to take care of the problem, I assume this is what is happening.  

Now the bigger problem.  I have just recently noticed two very small warts on the shaft of my penis.  These warts look exactly like the beginning stages of the ones that appear on my hand.  I am not promiscuous and have not had sex in over a year, but have been masturbating regularly (with oil) and fear that I may have spread these to my genitals especially given how aggressive they appeared to spread on my hands.  I have read some of your past responses and understand this is not a common occurance, but the fact that these look exactly like the ones that occur on my hand and that its been about a year since they first showed up makes me suspect.

My questions:
1) If these are the same strain of HPV as my hand should my immune system "kick in" as it is on my hands and resolve them without seeking treatment, or is that typically more of a local reaction
2) Should I in your opinion seek a biopsy of both a wart on my hand and one of these to confirm my fears or...
3) Is it a safe to deduce that a wart is a wart on your hand or elsewhere, and altough theoretically I will have HPV on my gentals for life (and on my hand for that matter), once my immune system suppresses the warts for good that I will be free to live a normal sex life without having to worry (of course given that I pay attention and have regular checkups to ensure no reccurrance has occurred).  It would be a shame to have to worry about rejection from future partners especially if I received my condition due to masturbation in the first place.

Thank you for any advice you may have on this matter.  I appreciate it!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If people could spread warts from their hands to their genitalia (or anywhere else), every wart patient would be covered with warts.  This does not happen.  You do not need to assume that you spread the warts from hand to penis.  I am in fact skeptical that the bumps on the penis are warts at all, even if they look the same to you.  I strongly urge you to get them examined and treated if needed.  But even if they are warts, there is, I repeat, no reason to think you spread them by masturbation.  Either you were exposed a long time ago, or else they were not even sexually transmitted.  Practically speaking, to doesn't matter much. But I repeat--don't assume they're warts.  Find out for sure.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[SlightlyPeeved]

Thanks for the prompt response.  I will schedule an appointment an post the result as soon as I get in there.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Thanks.

Dr. Rockoff

[SlightlyPeeved]

Well...Round 1 of testing my bumps.  I went to the local STD clinic and showed them off to the Dr.  She gave em a once over and told me that she's "not convinced" but that they'd treat them anyway.  Not very reassuring, but she was going to treat them with the acid but I much prefer the liquid nitrogen that was used on my hands (since I know it doesn't scar) so I'm going to schedule a dermatologist appointment.  In the meantime I'll keep my eye on my bumps and see if they change or go away like the ones on my hands did.

Also on my way out she told me "don't worry, EVERYONE has HPV, they just don't know they have it...welcome to life".

I'll update one more time after visiting my dermatologits.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Not everyone has HPV, though people who work in STD clinics might think otherwise.  If you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Dr. Rockoff

[Ouchy]

Please help, if you can...Several months ago, I noticed a few bumps that at 1st I thought were pimples..Long story short, I went to my Dr. & she said they were ingrown hairs (as an aside I asked about the "pimples", my original complaint was my left foot at the ball felt numb & my 2 middle toes were numbish.  Occasionally, shots of what felt like tiny slivers of glass were shooting out my toes...this all ties in with my question).  She felt my foot pain was a neuroma & sent me to a podiatrist.  In the meantime, she said use an antibacterial soap & a loofah on the "ingrown hairs.The podiatrist concurred that I had a neuroma. Tho no tests were administered.  I received 5 shots of a cortisone type injection, but to no avail...5 weeks later, the "ingrown hairs" have spred like wildfire & I made another appt, with my Dr. who now said she belived the "ingrown hairs" were now  molloscum.  I never went to the dermatologist because there is no way they are burning ALL of them of my body.  They are everywhere...(except my face & vaginal area)  Most are concentrated on my buttocks (as I sincerely feel I contracted them at work somehow).  I'm a married woman of 18 yrs. & monogamous.  My question...Is it possible I have the virus so bad that it's somehow gotten in my bloodstram & causing some sort of nerve pain?  Please respond if YOU'VE ever hgeard of such a thing?  I've been to an acupuncturist twice, it's painful & expensive.  It doesn't appear to be too effective.  I have an appointment with a nerologist, but I somehow feel it's all connected with the molluscum.  Or maybe it's just wishful thinking, 'cause the foot pain is severe.  I also have the sore/tender areas on my palms & fingers.  The molluscum is on my palms & heels.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[mary1521]

A related discussion, is it a genital wart or a keloid was started.