Why remove genital warts

I have had some (2)  bumps on my penis for a long time (over 30 years).  A long time ago (30 years) I went to a doctor about them and was told that they were something related to warts, but not warts and not to worry about them.  Recently, one of them (or perhaps a new bump - not sure)  got infected so I started cruising the internet and found out that warts are contagious and maybe I ought to have them checked out.  I went to a dermatologist who said I ought to get all the bumps biopsied.  I did and they all came back as warts.  I understand (again from the internet) that I have not gotten rid of the virus that causes warts, just the warts and that the warts might come back.  I also understand that most warts go away on their own after 2 - 3 years.  Finally I understand that only about 10% of genital warts are the kind that cause cervical cancer.
My questions:  1.  How often are there false positives on these biopsies.  2.  Given that I have had these for so long (and the two I am certain I had for 30 years without any change in their appearance), how likely is it that these were, in fact warts.  3.  My wife and I stopped haviong intercourse 20 years ago.  Is there really any reason for her to get checked out.  Wouldn't she have gotten cancer by now if she was going to get it.  And finally, 4.  The dematologist told me that now that we know they are warts, if they come back we can have them frozen off with nitrogen, but why bother?  I am apparently contagious whether or not I have warts.  Do warts significantly increase the likelihood of passing on the virus?
Thank you for your time.

[Jasmina Jankicevic, MD, MSc, CCRP]

Welcome to the Dermatology Expert Forum!

Answers to your questions are:
1. If all stages of taking and analyzing a biopsy are executed properly, and clinical findings taken into account before result is issued, than such a biopsy result should be very reliable.

2. The precise frequency and factors that favor or prevent "spontaneous" resolution of genital warts are not scientifically fully understood. Presence of lesions even for three decades or longer is possible.

3. If she has been going regularly to gynecologist for at least annual check she must have had Pap smear done regularly. If those results were always normal, she should be fine.

4. Yes, presence of genital warts does increases likelihood of sexual transmission of HPV.


Wishing You Optimal Helath,
Dr. Jasmina Jankicevic