Thin, Long Anal Bumps

[MSilva]

Can someone help me.  I am a bisexual person, who practices safe sex.  I never have unprotected anal or vaginal sex, but may have unprotected oral sex from time to time.  Recently I noticed that I have thin, slender projections arising in the peri-anal area.  When I wash myself, I can feel it, and I can even see a small, fleshy skin proliferation hanging from my anus hole.  It is very thin, and about 5 mm long.  I think I have another one in my anus as well.  I am very worried as to what this is.  From reading this board, it seems like it might be HPV.  I am a little confused since I am a male, should this concern me?  Is there any OTC medication I can use?  I am also worried that this maybe herpes?  Please, any advice would help. Thanks in advance!

I also don't have any other signs or symptoms.  It may be a little burning sensation near the anus, but nothing more than that.

[ibizan]

these sound like genital warts but u really need to get to a doctor to be sure.

[MSilva]

1. I have no insurance or anyway to go to a doctor right now.  Is there anything I can take OTC to get rid of them?

2. Also I have been reading a lot on this forum, and it seems like men really have nothing to worry about?  And if so many people are infected with HPV in some part of their life, do I have to be worried?

3. Can this spread to my penis area?  What should I do to make sure I contain this virus?

4.  I looked again today, and you can see like 2 small pimples near the anus area.  I am very worries, but HPV what else can it be?  This cant be HIV or Herpes can it?  
OMG! I am very scared.

[empathy60]

1.  If this is indeed genital warts, medical treatment from a qualified professional is necessary.  If you don't have insurance, you can go to a free clinic such as your county health clinic or Planned Parenthood if you're in the states.  These places will not charge you.  Seeking treatment for HPV is a wise thing to do in any case.  OTC treatment is not recommended or intended to use in the treatment of genital warts.  See a doctor, it is worth the effort and time.

2.  I think you're confusing low risk and high risk HPV.  High risk HPV causes cervical cancer and does not cause genital warts and primarily affects women more.  Men will usually never show a symptom if infected with high risk hpv.  Low risk HPV causes genital warts and does not cause cancer.  When a man gets genital warts, he is infected with low risk HPV (as is any woman with genital warts).  This is actually the only way to accurately diagnose HPV in men (when he shows a visible wart).  Either way, men infected with low risk HPV have just as much to worry about as a woman infected with low risk HPV.  While there are no tests for men for HPV, a man diagnosed with genital warts can be 100% sure he is HPV positive.

3.  If you have low risk HPV you may eventually develop warts on your penis.  Or you may not.  Time will tell.

4.  If you're concerned about HIV or Herpes, I would get tested for both, perhaps just for peace of mind.  These could be pimples, they could be something else.  Only a doctor will be able to tell you.

[MSilva]

Empathy:

Thank you so much for your post!!  The majority of the posts I read were yours in this forum.  A few more questions if you don't mind as I am very worried.

1. I keep reading low risk HPV is very common, and it usually subsides over time?  Is this true?  Also can I get rid of this after my warts go away?

2. Is there anything I can do to make sure it does not spread to the penis?  This would be horrible.

3.  If we can't get rid of it, and it just stays dormant, how will I know I do not get some kind of penile cancer?  

4.  Do you recommend starting treatment right away?  Also, if it is so common, I know I have an ethical duty to tell my partners, but if this is low-risk, do I really need to tell anyone?  I am just confused as to the guys who have the high-risk and do not know and never develop any signs and symptoms, if there is no test, how can anyone ever be sure they have it?

5. Last question, I promise.  Can I transfer this virus through semen?  Or is just skin to skin contact?  How about the other HPVs people get, like the plantar warts, do they stay dormant also?  What's the different between those and the ones near the anus, besides obvious reasons?  OMG! I am so worred, thanks again for all your support Empathy, I hope God blesses your kindness and the help you have given everyone.

This is horrible!  I am so upset right now because I practice safe sex and now this has happened.  

[MSilva]

I keep reading there are no tests for high-risk HPV for men?  How can we be sure we do not have the high-risk HPV?  I am just thinking, if I got the low-risk HPV, isn't my chances higher in getting the high-risk on as well?  Also, now do I need to get anal paps for the rest of my life?  I am not really bisexual, just had a few encounters here and there at parties, so I am going to stop that altogether.  I am just confused because everyone says the virus is dormant, I don't want to pass anything to my girl friend.  

Also if 50% of females are infected with HPV, isn't it just a matter of time before we get infected as well?  This is all to confusing, I think I am going to pass out.

[empathy60]

No problem, glad I can help.

1. I keep reading low risk HPV is very common, and it usually subsides over time?  Is this true?  Also can I get rid of this after my warts go away?

No HPV infection persists forever.  The virus may remain in the body in a suppressed state (such as chicken pox or mono), but after time the risk of transmitting it to partners is close to zero.  Only your immune system can beat the HPV infection, there is no treatment for the actual virus.  But there are treatments for visible symptoms such as warts it may cause.  HPV is the most common STI, and most sexually active people will get a few different HPV strains throughout the course of a normal sex life.  Most won't know they're infected or show symptoms and the infection will eventually subside.

2. Is there anything I can do to make sure it does not spread to the penis?  This would be horrible.

I've read that worrying about autoinoculation isn't that much of a concern.  I still don't know too much about this subject, however, there is a lot of good advice about this in the expert forums.

3.  If we can't get rid of it, and it just stays dormant, how will I know I do not get some kind of penile cancer?  

Acquiring penile cancer from an HPV infection is rare.  And you can't get cancer from a low risk infection.

4.  Do you recommend starting treatment right away?  Also, if it is so common, I know I have an ethical duty to tell my partners, but if this is low-risk, do I really need to tell anyone?  I am just confused as to the guys who have the high-risk and do not know and never develop any signs and symptoms, if there is no test, how can anyone ever be sure they have it?

Since it sounds like you haven't even had this diagnosed yet, I would recommend seeing a doctor.  You might not even have HPV.  But if you do have warts, I would recommend beginning treatment promptly.  You don't necessarily have an ethical duty to inform your partners after a certain amount of time in the case of low risk infections.  Dr. HHH (expert forum doctor) recommends one tells prospective/current sexual partners until one has been wart free for at least six months.  This is when most experts believe the virus is no longer transmittable.  Before the six month time frame has elapsed, it is a good idea to inform partners of your infection.  Being diagnosed with genital warts is a surefire way to diagnose HPV infection.  HPV infection CAUSES genital warts.  HPV can also be detected in women during a pap smear.

5. Last question, I promise.  Can I transfer this virus through semen?  Or is just skin to skin contact?  How about the other HPVs people get, like the plantar warts, do they stay dormant also?  What's the different between those and the ones near the anus, besides obvious reasons?

HPV is a skin virus and not transmitted through fluid like other STD's.  I'm not sure about non-sexually transmitted HPV, but I would assume the same principles apply.  This again, would be something to look in the expert forums about.  There are tons of different strains of HPV and only about 30 or so which are sexually transmitted and affect the genital region.

As for your second post, there are no tests for men to detect HPV.  The only way to totally diagnose it is if a man develops genital warts.  There is no way for a man to be sure he has high risk HPV, but most will know if they're female sex partner develops a high risk HPV infection (both partners can assume they're infected).  Some doctors would recommend rectal pap smears, others may not.  That's up to the doctor.   The virus will eventually go dormant, but while you're still having outbreaks you can assume the virus is active.

There's no need to justify your sexuality, no one is here to judge.  HPV infection is common, and most can expect to be infected with at least one strain during this lifetime.  According to doctors, it's not something to get bent of shape about.

But you're not even sure you have HPV yet.  See a doctor to confirm this and don't worry about it until you know what's going on for sure.

[MSilva]

I just noticed around inside the side of my but cheeks, there is a raised line.  I can feel it when I am in the shower.  Also between my anus and penis, another bump seems to have formed.  I kept reading these warts may go away, but it seems like it's spreading.  Nothing is on my penis yet, and I noticed that when I pay it hurts a little too.  I don't know if I am over analyzing, but I have not other symptoms.  I am just worried that this could be HSV-2 or 1?  Any comments are appreciated.  

[MSilva]

Sorry, I mean to say when I pee it hurts a little.  Also, I definitely have another bump that just formed in the last week or so, it looks like a white bumb, but it is larger then the other ones, maybe a 1/2 cm.  I am thinking of getting this check out now.  

[empathy60]

Did you ever have these bumps checked out in the past month?   Also, I do not know enough about herpes to offer much valid advice.