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Wart confusion
Hi -- I am very confused about a diagnosis I recently received and I'm hoping you can clear it up for me.
I felt a small growth on my anus and went to see a dermatologist. He biopsied it, and the results came back as "Verucca," which he said was a "common wart." He insisted this was different than "condyloma," which is a sexually transmitted wart.
Because it was a "verucca," he said, I was not sexually contagious and did not need to disclose this to any potential partners. This seems odd to me, since I thought all anogenital warts are sexually transmittable.
Can you really tell the difference between a sexually-transmittable wart and non-wart in the genial region just from a biopsy? HPV must be present in that region either way, right? And that wouldn't that mean I'm contagious?
I felt a small growth on my anus and went to see a dermatologist. He biopsied it, and the results came back as "Verucca," which he said was a "common wart." He insisted this was different than "condyloma," which is a sexually transmitted wart.
Because it was a "verucca," he said, I was not sexually contagious and did not need to disclose this to any potential partners. This seems odd to me, since I thought all anogenital warts are sexually transmittable.
Can you really tell the difference between a sexually-transmittable wart and non-wart in the genial region just from a biopsy? HPV must be present in that region either way, right? And that wouldn't that mean I'm contagious?
Thanks -- If the biopsy confirmed this was a "common wart" that just happened to be in my anus, would this make it any less contagious than the kind of warts that usually appear in the ano-genital region?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Thank you for your post.
Warts are small, rough growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Any area of the skin can be affected, but warts are most commonly found on the hands, feet and face. Warts on the sole of the feet are known as verrucas and are also caused by HPV. Warts are caused by HPV, of which there are over 100 different types. Warts can be contagious, but the risk of you catching them is low. Warts usually spread from direct skin contact or in damp places, commonly in swimming pools and communal showers. If you scratch a wart, the viral particles may spread to other areas of your skin. Up to one in 10 people will have a wart at some point in their life, most commonly in childhood or adolescence. Warts and verrucas are usually harmless and go away by themselves, with up to nine in 10 disappearing within two years in children but often taking longer in adults.
Ano-genital warts are usually caused by different types of HPV. They usually spread from other parts of the body, or most often, by sexual contact. The way to differentiate a plain wart from a typical genital wart (sexually transmitted) is through its appearance and also through histology result from the biopsy. However in general terms if somone has a wart on their genitals or anal area, this would normally be considered sexually transmitted and as such one would be potentially contagious.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Thank you for your post.
Warts are small, rough growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Any area of the skin can be affected, but warts are most commonly found on the hands, feet and face. Warts on the sole of the feet are known as verrucas and are also caused by HPV. Warts are caused by HPV, of which there are over 100 different types. Warts can be contagious, but the risk of you catching them is low. Warts usually spread from direct skin contact or in damp places, commonly in swimming pools and communal showers. If you scratch a wart, the viral particles may spread to other areas of your skin. Up to one in 10 people will have a wart at some point in their life, most commonly in childhood or adolescence. Warts and verrucas are usually harmless and go away by themselves, with up to nine in 10 disappearing within two years in children but often taking longer in adults.
Ano-genital warts are usually caused by different types of HPV. They usually spread from other parts of the body, or most often, by sexual contact. The way to differentiate a plain wart from a typical genital wart (sexually transmitted) is through its appearance and also through histology result from the biopsy. However in general terms if somone has a wart on their genitals or anal area, this would normally be considered sexually transmitted and as such one would be potentially contagious.
Best wishes,
Dr José
You are reading content posted in the STDs - International Forum
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.
