Genital Warts

Dr. Rockoff,
I was recently diagnosed with, as the dermatologist described, "your garden variety of genital warts".  He used liquid nitrogen to freeze them.  They were on the lower to mid portion of my penis. They didn't look like any of the pictures I have seen on the internet, however, he indicated he was sure that is what they were.  I asked him if they would be contagious after they healed and he stated no, but it was possible they could come back.  I am concerned that I will always be contagious from this point forward, no matter what.

After looking at pictures on the internet my symptoms seem to match those of Molloscus (MPV) rather than gential (genital) warts.  I do understand the treatment is the same for both.

My qestions are:

1. Will I be contagious once they have healed from the freezing nitorgen treatment and they are no other bumps present.

2. What are the chances of a reoccurance?

3. How long ago could I have become infected?

4. Which virus is more serious to treat and live with, the HPV or MCV.  

Thanks for you help,
DVR

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Molluscum is less serious, but your doctor can tell the difference--especially since when you freeze molluscum, there's a dimple in the center which would have been obvious.  So you should take the diagnosis of regular warts at face value.

As to your other questions:
1.  I don't know and there's no way to tell.  It's reasonable to assume that contagiousness is low, but since no one can say it's zero, you should tall prospective partners that you once had warts.  Of course, keep in mind that many women may have had warts inside and not even known about it.
2. Impossible to calculate.
3. Impossible to say.  It's not even possible to say that you contracted the warts sexually.

I'm sorry that we can't be certain about so many basic wart phenomena, but since you asked, those are the facts.

You need to do what is doable--namely, get rid of the warts, watch for recurrences, and other wise just get on with it.  There isn't any other choice, and you have literally tens of millions of colleagues in the same situation.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff