Aa
one wart - gone now, whats next
I had a small bump on the shaft of my penis. I went to a specialty doctor and he sergically removed it and sent it for a biopsy. Can back positive as a genital wart. The doctor assured me that that particular wart would not come back. I have read that HPV of this kind clears a healthy persons system after 6 months or so. Should I expect more warts to show up over the next 6 months? If so, is there anything I can do to reduce the amount? When can I have sex again? Any comments are greatly appreciated.
My understanding is that the physical signs of genital warts will pass with time, however, HPV can remain in your body indefinitely. I believe those are in high-risk situations. But from what I've read a healthy immune system can *eventually* (being the operative word) fight off the virus. There are no drugs to cure HPV.
I'm currently worried that I may have genital warts myself. Going to see the dermatologist next week. The bumps I have look flat and flesh colored. They do not burn nor itch, and have had them for 3 weeks now. They look more like Fordyce's Spots from the pictures I've seen online compared to what my bumps look like. But I don't think they could be this because generally from what I've read, they occur at or around puberty...and I'm 25-years-old.
I'm currently worried that I may have genital warts myself. Going to see the dermatologist next week. The bumps I have look flat and flesh colored. They do not burn nor itch, and have had them for 3 weeks now. They look more like Fordyce's Spots from the pictures I've seen online compared to what my bumps look like. But I don't think they could be this because generally from what I've read, they occur at or around puberty...and I'm 25-years-old.
It's been the exact same place for me.
do the warts come back in the exact same place or do the just pop up around the same area? It would make a big difference to me as I only had one and am now inspecting myself hourly in all other places.
i guess one more won't hurt...
Is there anyone that has been through this that can at least tell me your story?
I was diagnosed with genital warts in January. I was treated with liquid nitrogen. The warts came back, in the same place a month after treatment. Was treated two more times, the last one was this week. Hopefully this does the trick.
For me, and I think for most people, the warts always come back to the same place. I catch them when they are quite small and get treated right away. Because you know what to look for, you will notice right away if the wart is comes back. If you get it treated, there will be little chance of it progressing to something worse than the original wart.
Over the long term, there is debate over whether the virus is totally cleared, or just reduced to the point where it can't be detected by tests. It seems like some people have another episode long after their warts have dissapeared, but this is rare, and might actually be caused by a new infection.
Is there anyone that has been through this that can at least tell me your story?
I was diagnosed with genital warts in January. I was treated with liquid nitrogen. The warts came back, in the same place a month after treatment. Was treated two more times, the last one was this week. Hopefully this does the trick.
For me, and I think for most people, the warts always come back to the same place. I catch them when they are quite small and get treated right away. Because you know what to look for, you will notice right away if the wart is comes back. If you get it treated, there will be little chance of it progressing to something worse than the original wart.
Over the long term, there is debate over whether the virus is totally cleared, or just reduced to the point where it can't be detected by tests. It seems like some people have another episode long after their warts have dissapeared, but this is rare, and might actually be caused by a new infection.
One last post from me, then I will move on.
HSV-1 is very common. Testing positive for HSV-1 through a blood test does not mean you have genital herpes. Because the OP had cold sores in the past, he knew that he would test positive for HSV-1, so this test does not provide any new information.
While it is true that doctors can make mistakes, it is unlikely that they will confuse herpes for a wart. Besides, the wart was biopsied and then test confirmed HPV. I don't think speculating that the doctor did anything different, like removing a cyst and lying about the testing, is helpful.
Suspected warts can be tested for HPV. Most of the time, this is not done because a diagnosis is clear based on a visual inspection. In the absense of warts, men are not tested for HPV.
The acedic acid test is almost useless in testing for HPV. It can enhance contrast and make a visual inspection easier, but a lot of the time, non-warty tissue will turn white and warty tissue will remain unchanged.
Back to the original poster, I thihk the response is totally based on the individual. 90% of genital warts are caused by two strains, yet outbreaks vary. It seems as though treatment of the warts reduces the chance of them increasing in size and number.
Fortunately 50% of people will clear the virus within 8 months, 70 within a year and 90 within 2.
HSV-1 is very common. Testing positive for HSV-1 through a blood test does not mean you have genital herpes. Because the OP had cold sores in the past, he knew that he would test positive for HSV-1, so this test does not provide any new information.
While it is true that doctors can make mistakes, it is unlikely that they will confuse herpes for a wart. Besides, the wart was biopsied and then test confirmed HPV. I don't think speculating that the doctor did anything different, like removing a cyst and lying about the testing, is helpful.
Suspected warts can be tested for HPV. Most of the time, this is not done because a diagnosis is clear based on a visual inspection. In the absense of warts, men are not tested for HPV.
The acedic acid test is almost useless in testing for HPV. It can enhance contrast and make a visual inspection easier, but a lot of the time, non-warty tissue will turn white and warty tissue will remain unchanged.
Back to the original poster, I thihk the response is totally based on the individual. 90% of genital warts are caused by two strains, yet outbreaks vary. It seems as though treatment of the warts reduces the chance of them increasing in size and number.
Fortunately 50% of people will clear the virus within 8 months, 70 within a year and 90 within 2.
Thank you for your help, however I am not really looking for a diagnosis - my doctor already did that and I am quite sure he knows what he is doing. I have had HSV1 for about 28 years, I got it as a child and have had many many cold sores - I know what herpes is, what it feels like and this isn't it. I know that in rare cases you can have HSV1 infect you both oraly and genitaly, but from the information that I have read it is typically one or the other. My main concern is finding more information about genital warts as this is my diagnosis. I have learned that it can remain latent for many years and the pop up out of nowhere but I am still searching for answers on what to expect next. My one wart has been removed and healed, should I expect more? Is there a common frequency or quantity? Is there anyone that has been through this that can at least tell me your story?
Oh and intelligent is spelled like this..
Doctors make mistakes just like everyone and anyone can. Herpes is checked with a blood sample, HPV is checked with the testing i told you the acidic testing but once again not FDA approved.
Why your doctor removed it for "testing" i dont know. Maybe he just removed it for you. Or maybe he was testing for other types of infections such as Impetigo or Molluscum contagiosum.
Alexdelong is right on the fact that generally the ones appear on your genitals are of a certain strand but that doesnt exclude the possibility of a not so common strand being in your genital area..
And not nearly everyone tests positive for HSV-1. You said you had HSV-1 and a "bump" in your genital region could be a possible explanation. What did your test say you had for HSV1?
I would say if you wouldn't have told me you have HSV1 then i would say he could have also removed it because it was a bump or even a cyst..
Why your doctor removed it for "testing" i dont know. Maybe he just removed it for you. Or maybe he was testing for other types of infections such as Impetigo or Molluscum contagiosum.
Alexdelong is right on the fact that generally the ones appear on your genitals are of a certain strand but that doesnt exclude the possibility of a not so common strand being in your genital area..
And not nearly everyone tests positive for HSV-1. You said you had HSV-1 and a "bump" in your genital region could be a possible explanation. What did your test say you had for HSV1?
I would say if you wouldn't have told me you have HSV1 then i would say he could have also removed it because it was a bump or even a cyst..
Thank you, I was hoping to get an inteligent response. Are there any standards for people with genital warts to go by as to the frequency or amount of warts to expect or is it completely different for each person?
i disagree with alex. You had a genital wart. Any competent doctor would not confuse a wart with herpes, and it is impossible to remove a herpes sore for testing.
Warts that appear on your genitals are of a different HPV strain than the ones that appear on your body.
Almost everybody will clear the HPV virus, but the actual time it takes varies. If you are wart free for 6 months, you can be resonably sure that warts won't come back. In the meantime, it is important to inform partners of your HPV infection. Don't stess about it, but reaccurances in the weeks to months after treatment are common. Just follow up with your doctor and your immune system will respond.
As for herpes, nearly everybody will test positive for HSV-1. Without a genital outbreak, there is no reason to suspect that you have genital herpes.
Warts that appear on your genitals are of a different HPV strain than the ones that appear on your body.
Almost everybody will clear the HPV virus, but the actual time it takes varies. If you are wart free for 6 months, you can be resonably sure that warts won't come back. In the meantime, it is important to inform partners of your HPV infection. Don't stess about it, but reaccurances in the weeks to months after treatment are common. Just follow up with your doctor and your immune system will respond.
As for herpes, nearly everybody will test positive for HSV-1. Without a genital outbreak, there is no reason to suspect that you have genital herpes.
Thanks for the comment Alex. From what I have read in this forum, if you have a wart on your genitals - it is considered a genital wart (HPV). Do you have any information available that suggests otherwise? Additionally, I do understand that there is no test for males to specifically say that you have HPV, however I do believe that they can do a biopsy to determine if it is a wart or not and if my above statement is true (warts on genitals is considered genital warts) then it would stand to reason that I have genital warts. I have been tested for HSV2 - negative. I do have cold sores HSV1 however. Please let me know if I have been misinformed.
Obviously i dont want to scare you but you always want to think the worst in these situations until proven wrong. If you went to a doctor and had it surgically removed its probably because it was a regular wart.. of course i could be wrong. Most likely it was the type of wart that can be manifested on your hands. The only real way to know weather it could be worse such as HSV 2 (genital herpes) or HPV which as you said clears up is to be tested for it.
From what i know is that men dont have a FDA approved test to let you know if you have HPV. The test only applies for woman but u can go to a doctor and ask for a test commonly known as an "acidic test" which they use vinegar to show if you have it. I would recommend obviously getting checked out for herpes to just clear your mind of it being anymore.
If you see anymore warts obviously you want to keep a close eye on they and try not to irrate them. And dont necessarily expect more but you can be assured that if they come back as a white pupil-ly then the most probable cause maybe HPV and yes HPV in a healthy immune system will be surpressed within 6 months to 24 months.
Obviously no sex is recommended until you figure out what you have. Approx it takes about 3 -8 days to get your results.
From what i know is that men dont have a FDA approved test to let you know if you have HPV. The test only applies for woman but u can go to a doctor and ask for a test commonly known as an "acidic test" which they use vinegar to show if you have it. I would recommend obviously getting checked out for herpes to just clear your mind of it being anymore.
If you see anymore warts obviously you want to keep a close eye on they and try not to irrate them. And dont necessarily expect more but you can be assured that if they come back as a white pupil-ly then the most probable cause maybe HPV and yes HPV in a healthy immune system will be surpressed within 6 months to 24 months.
Obviously no sex is recommended until you figure out what you have. Approx it takes about 3 -8 days to get your results.
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
