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Genital Wart Reoccurrence after 2 years clear?
Hi... this is my first attempt at a post.
I'm a 24 year old female- healthy, active, non smoker.
December 2007/January 2008 I went into my gyn for a bump- turned out to be a genital wart- still pretty small. There were 2 others- very, very small. My gyn prescribed me Aldera- which i applied as instructed and the warts disappear in literally 1 week. He (and I!) was very pleased and suggested my immune system responded well. He also instructed me that because so much of the population already carried HPV, and that so many people can be asymptomatic- there was really no need to speak to future partners about my HPV past. I followed this advice, although, at first, I felt slightly uncomfortable with it. No sign of warts since then- on my inspection and annuals.
Yesterday I found what I fear may be the start of another wart- about an inch below and to the right of my vaginal opening. Its very, very tiny. I tear in that area sometimes, and my skin is never perfectly smooth. Everything I've read on this forum suggests that my body should have been cleared of the HPV infection- a little after 2 years.
So I guess my question is.. what is the likelihood that I have a recurrence after 2 years of being clear?
Also, I've been in a relationship for about 5 months now- and we (after my last annual and clearing of STD screens) have done the whole unprotected sex bit after I went on the pill. Does this mean I've put my boyfriend at risk? If it is a wart do we abstain from sex or is it a moot point because he's been with me for 5 months already, most of those months unprotected?
Thanks so much!
I'm a 24 year old female- healthy, active, non smoker.
December 2007/January 2008 I went into my gyn for a bump- turned out to be a genital wart- still pretty small. There were 2 others- very, very small. My gyn prescribed me Aldera- which i applied as instructed and the warts disappear in literally 1 week. He (and I!) was very pleased and suggested my immune system responded well. He also instructed me that because so much of the population already carried HPV, and that so many people can be asymptomatic- there was really no need to speak to future partners about my HPV past. I followed this advice, although, at first, I felt slightly uncomfortable with it. No sign of warts since then- on my inspection and annuals.
Yesterday I found what I fear may be the start of another wart- about an inch below and to the right of my vaginal opening. Its very, very tiny. I tear in that area sometimes, and my skin is never perfectly smooth. Everything I've read on this forum suggests that my body should have been cleared of the HPV infection- a little after 2 years.
So I guess my question is.. what is the likelihood that I have a recurrence after 2 years of being clear?
Also, I've been in a relationship for about 5 months now- and we (after my last annual and clearing of STD screens) have done the whole unprotected sex bit after I went on the pill. Does this mean I've put my boyfriend at risk? If it is a wart do we abstain from sex or is it a moot point because he's been with me for 5 months already, most of those months unprotected?
Thanks so much!
Wow this was really helpful to me... Don't stress to much. I am glad you asked.
Hi!
Thanks for all the responses and information!
I had my appt with my gyn earlier today & he felt it was not a wart at all.
He wasn't sure what it was- but that it didn't look like a wart, and he did the bit where they rub the liquid on it to see if it turns white after his statements of it not looking like a wart- and nothing.
I get skin tears in the area- and have for a while- so he feels it may just be a bit of built up scar tissue from that. He actually prescribed me a low dose steriod cream to put on the area to try and rule out lichen sclerosus and a few other skin issues he listed.
Sorry the answers aren't much help in the HPV area...
I do feel better after going to him- but it still makes me nervous to have an "unknow" bump in that region.
Thanks for all the responses and information!
I had my appt with my gyn earlier today & he felt it was not a wart at all.
He wasn't sure what it was- but that it didn't look like a wart, and he did the bit where they rub the liquid on it to see if it turns white after his statements of it not looking like a wart- and nothing.
I get skin tears in the area- and have for a while- so he feels it may just be a bit of built up scar tissue from that. He actually prescribed me a low dose steriod cream to put on the area to try and rule out lichen sclerosus and a few other skin issues he listed.
Sorry the answers aren't much help in the HPV area...
I do feel better after going to him- but it still makes me nervous to have an "unknow" bump in that region.
You stated you have been dating a guy now for 5 months, so it seems likely that he had a different strand of HPV than the one you cleared, and gave it to you. There is no test for HPV in men, therefore he may not have even known about it. There is a chance, although a terribly small chance, that your past infection started up again.
You do not, and should not stop having sex with your current boyfriend, because he probably gave it to you, or you probably gave it to him by now anyway.
Also, you should make sure it is even a genital wart first before you start worrying too much. There are plenty of other skin issues that cause wart like symptoms.
My Best,
Rainn
You do not, and should not stop having sex with your current boyfriend, because he probably gave it to you, or you probably gave it to him by now anyway.
Also, you should make sure it is even a genital wart first before you start worrying too much. There are plenty of other skin issues that cause wart like symptoms.
My Best,
Rainn
As your doctor told you many people have HPV and most are asympomatic. Being that your in a new relationship and having unprotected sex you have more than likely caught another strain of HPV. Remember there are 40 strains of HPV that cause genital infections and about 10 or so can cause genital warts. 6 and 11 account for 90% of genital wart cases. To answer the second part of your question: Yes you can continue to have sex with your current boyfriend. The virus is now shared and there is no ping pong effect. To validate this information for yourself visit ASHASTD.ORG. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask.
I am very interested to see what the answer to your question is... I am actually very curious for myself. I never had any visible warts and I am wondering how long till I am really and truly safe to have sex with someone since i have and have had no visible signs...
I am also curious if you find out you do have HPV (again?) to find out if you have a new strain or not and if you can find that out...
I really want to know what the rate of reappearance vs. new infection is...
(sorry this isn't very helpful... I just want to learn more for myself as i am sure you do)
I am also curious if you find out you do have HPV (again?) to find out if you have a new strain or not and if you can find that out...
I really want to know what the rate of reappearance vs. new infection is...
(sorry this isn't very helpful... I just want to learn more for myself as i am sure you do)
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
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