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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Clarification
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Clarification
by 345medhelpFAN, Apr 19, 2004 12:00AM
On 3/9/04 you responded to a question I had regarding genital warts "Hard to say. You may have the virus in latent form, or she may have gotten it from a previous partner. You may get it soon, late, or never. You know what? It doesn't matter much. Chances are one or several of your previous partners had the virus at some point whether they knew it or not. You can't do anything about warts anyway, unless you can see them, and men get warts on the penile shaft, where you can see them. So my best advice is just to forget about it--if the warts come, they come. Your girlfriend should get regular GYN checkups. Some day we'll have a pill for HPV, but right now we don't."
To update you: I saw a urologist last week and he did a full exam, checked me for sub-clinical infections, did a vinegar wash, used a magnifiying glass and said I have nothing. He also said based on my exposure, history, and current good health, he feels I am gonna be fine and said to use protection and follow up in 6 months. He also based some of this on the fact its been two months since I was last exposed and three months since I was first exposed.
I am just trying to make sure I understand the situation, so that I don't worry too much and I have the proper outlook, etc.
So I have two questions:
1. You mentioned above that given my history I have likely been exposed more than once to HPV by one or more partners whether those girls knew they were exposing me or not. SO, does that mean when I come in contact with HPV that causes warts I am less likely to be affected by it, i.e. get warts?
2. If a girl gets warts from being with me (maybe I have it in latent form, etc) and I am intimate with her and she has active warts, under this situation...I am NOT likely to develop warts as I was the one who gave it to her in the first place, NO?
My second question is also geared towards future relationships.
What is your opinion?
Thanks!
To update you: I saw a urologist last week and he did a full exam, checked me for sub-clinical infections, did a vinegar wash, used a magnifiying glass and said I have nothing. He also said based on my exposure, history, and current good health, he feels I am gonna be fine and said to use protection and follow up in 6 months. He also based some of this on the fact its been two months since I was last exposed and three months since I was first exposed.
I am just trying to make sure I understand the situation, so that I don't worry too much and I have the proper outlook, etc.
So I have two questions:
1. You mentioned above that given my history I have likely been exposed more than once to HPV by one or more partners whether those girls knew they were exposing me or not. SO, does that mean when I come in contact with HPV that causes warts I am less likely to be affected by it, i.e. get warts?
2. If a girl gets warts from being with me (maybe I have it in latent form, etc) and I am intimate with her and she has active warts, under this situation...I am NOT likely to develop warts as I was the one who gave it to her in the first place, NO?
My second question is also geared towards future relationships.
What is your opinion?
Thanks!
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Apr 20, 2004 12:00AM
, Apr 20, 2004 12:00AM
1. No, it just means that exposure is likely sooner or later, and avoidance of exposure almost impossible (unless you have just one partner, or no sex at all.)
2. There's just no way to know. You don't know that you have warts, so there's no way to know that someone who gets warts after being with you got it from you.
I repeat my original advice: if you get a visible wart, go and take care if it. Ask future partners if they know whether they had warts. If they haven't, that's about the best reassurance you're going to get, even if it's not perfect.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
2. There's just no way to know. You don't know that you have warts, so there's no way to know that someone who gets warts after being with you got it from you.
I repeat my original advice: if you get a visible wart, go and take care if it. Ask future partners if they know whether they had warts. If they haven't, that's about the best reassurance you're going to get, even if it's not perfect.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
I am 13 years old. I have noticed a red rash on the side of my penis that touchs by balls. It has bumbs around it, however, they seem to look like bumbs that have hair coming out of them. I'm not tottaly sure what to do about this. I have had unprotected sex one time. And protected 3 times. I used a torjan condom so I am preaty sure no std got in me. My girlfriend denies having any std or ever having sex before me. I'm not sure what to do and hope to recive a suggestion.
-Aidan
Not I'm not a doctor. I think you need to pay in order to get a response from the good doc. However, if there are hairs coming through the rash I think that is a good sign that it is probably "in-grown hair" related. Stop touching it!! Keep it dry after you shower and if it still looks bad in a week then pay to get a response from the doc. Just one man's opinion.