Genital Warts Questions

Hello Dr. Rockoff,

There is a ton of information on Genital Warts on the web, and I don't know what to make of it all. There is a lot of contradicting information on the web about Genital Warts.  I had protected sex with a girl of unknown status (but high risk. I found out that she gets around ALOT) about 17 weeks ago. The condom did not slip or break. I tested for all the major STDs and I have tested negative. I talked to my family doctor; a STD specialist in LA, and my dematolgist and they stated that I'm passed the period for herpes, so the only thing left I am worried about is genital warts. Please help me with my questions.

1) Can HPV go through condoms? Should I worry about getting warts on the shaft of my penis? A couple of the STD specialist on the web say no, and I look at some other websites and they said yes. I have the normal bumps on shaft of my penis, however I noticed that one looks a bit different. It's the same size as the others, but it's a little darker on top in color ( a little more red then the other ones). I can not tell looking at it with the naked eye if it has a califlower top (too small). However I did they putting vinegar on it three different times and it did not change to a white color.

2) How long does it take for warts to show up? One STD specialist down in LA told me that I'm pass the window period and told me to stop worrying about it. Is this true?

3) I saw some of your postings about using condoms and not worry. How effective are condoms in preventing HPV and HSV?

4) Any other Myths or Legends about Genital Warts or HSV you can educate us on?

Thank you for time. Take Care!

T

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Most of your questions unfortunately have no clear answers.  Warts can be latent for years.  Even if you got a wart now, you would have no way of knowing whether you caught it recently or long ago.  There is no clear data that condoms protect.  The only way to be absolutely sure you won't get a wart is to never have sex.

Having said that, I would add that in practical terms, all you need to do is bring any suspicious bumps to a doctor's attention.  Your description doesn't sound very suspicious to me, but of course I haven't seen it.  So get a doctor to check it out.  If you don't have a wart, then that's all the certainty you can have for now.  Not much point in thinking or agonizing further.  As for condos, herpes and HIV are good reasons to use them anyway.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[rook_pup]

Thank you very much for your advise. Just one more question.

Do you think that after 17 weeks  I should not have to worry about herpes?


Thanks again!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Not really.  And condoms are good protection against herpes.

Dr. Rockoff