Genital Warts or herpes

Hello Doctor,
I found a bump by my labia (the inner area) about maybe two weeks ago.I It felt hard, thought was ingrown hair so ignored it.couple days ago, when I checked it out again, it got bigger, and found two more. Basically they were dark colour from afar,close up they are skin colour, irregularly rounded shape, almost look like a bunch of round skin tags. They had the cauliflower shape to them.They are not painful at all.They felt rough and hard.So i put polysporin on it,  the following day the were greyish/whiteish.The skin around the bumps are completely normal.On the 30th, i went to my family doctor, i just took a picture of it and showed him.He said it is probably genital warts. He refer me to a dermatologist and a gynecologist and im still waiting on the dates.As of today, which is jan 1,the colours are no long whiteish/greylish, they are dark again from afar,and skin colour close up.The bump does not feel as hard anymore, the surface feels less rough. They look a lot less protruding, the little bumps that was once one big bump seems to flatten out a bit. I don't think they are blistered like because nothing poped out, no puss, nothing was cut, or anything like that. The bumps just got flatter.
Looking at the photos, im not sure if it got smaller but it is alot less visible. Before I can just see it and now i have to really look at it. So by now roughly, I had these bumps for at least 3 weeks now.
My question is:
1) If this is genital warts, how long do I have to wait to protected sex post treatment? I have a boyfriend and we haven't had sex yet, and I am not planning on telling him any of this.
2) Could this be herpes? Does my sound anything like it? What are the major difference between herpes warts and genital warts.
I hope you can help me clarify my situation before I visit my doctor, since its the new year, my appointments may not be so soon.
Thank you doctor

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Welcome to the Dermatology Expert Forum! Thank you for your initial questions and useful updates.

This is one of those situations where one look at lesions would help more than many descriptive words. Your decision to see a dermatologist for detailed evaluation is the best thing to do.

In the meantime, we can tell you this: theoretically, tree slightly hyperpigmented, cauliflower shaped, rough, painless vulvar lesions are pointing towards growths such as viral warts. If you decide to post photographs, feel free to let me know. I shall let you know what I see.

Answers to your questions are:

1) Course of healing is different with different treatment option. In general, sexual intercourse is not recommended until skin/mucosa is completely healed which is anywhere between 7 and 21 days after therapy is successfully concluded.

2) Lesions in genital herpes (small papules, vesicles, erosions, etc.) are very different from appearance of genital warts (cauliflower like growths). Clinical features you described do not resonate with findings for genital herpes simplex infection.


Wishing You Optimal Health,
Dr. Jasmina Jankicevic

[hoaqingzhang]

To add, my last sexual encounter was in May of this year. Protected sex but unprotected oral sex.

[hoaqingzhang]

Sorry one last add, i have tried poping it and nothing come out, and then one time i try to shave so i can have more of a visibility, it just bleed a little, i probably cut it, but didnt notice any pus or anything, and the bleeding stopped in matter of seconds.

[hoaqingzhang]

Since you havent responded, i wanted to add another thing,
i got a second opinion today, from other family doctor that actually looked at the area, at first he couldn't find it, and then he saw it and said they look like warts but not the classic case of genital warts, more like from shaving or skin irritation. He said, he does not think they are warts and i should wait 4 to 6 weeks and see what happens. The warts themselves have gotten flatter also. Also they are definitely not herpes.

What is your take on this?