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STDs (Expert Forum)
15 year old wart
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
15 year old wart
by knicksfan, Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
Dear Dr. H.,
I recently read a post entitled ‘HPV in England’ and had a question. Is the general attitude in the U.S. regarding HPV clearance time, in your opinion, on the extreme side compared to that of the UK? I had a single wart removed from the shaft of my penis 15 years ago (I’m 39 now) with absolutely no recurrence - doc never made an issue about telling new partners. I recently learned a little about HPV from a co-worker and decided to talk with my new doc about my old wart. Up until this point, I never gave having an std a second thought. But since doing some reading (many of these online sites) about HPV, I’ve felt like ‘there’s something wrong with me’. I think I was better off in the dark! : ) My new doc said to me, “Off the record, if you haven’t had a recurrence in 15 years, you’re not going to. But we typically tell our patients that they can never be 100% sure and to discuss it with new partners.” I’ve been in four long-term, monogamous relationships in those 15 years. Girlfriends all maintained regular gynecologist visits with no irregularities that I know of. I’ve read many posts and your stance seems to be if you go 6-12 months without recurrence, there’s no ethical obligation to discuss. I’m very confused from the various points of information and not sure what to tell new partners about my 15 year old wart.
Thanks a lot for your time.
I recently read a post entitled ‘HPV in England’ and had a question. Is the general attitude in the U.S. regarding HPV clearance time, in your opinion, on the extreme side compared to that of the UK? I had a single wart removed from the shaft of my penis 15 years ago (I’m 39 now) with absolutely no recurrence - doc never made an issue about telling new partners. I recently learned a little about HPV from a co-worker and decided to talk with my new doc about my old wart. Up until this point, I never gave having an std a second thought. But since doing some reading (many of these online sites) about HPV, I’ve felt like ‘there’s something wrong with me’. I think I was better off in the dark! : ) My new doc said to me, “Off the record, if you haven’t had a recurrence in 15 years, you’re not going to. But we typically tell our patients that they can never be 100% sure and to discuss it with new partners.” I’ve been in four long-term, monogamous relationships in those 15 years. Girlfriends all maintained regular gynecologist visits with no irregularities that I know of. I’ve read many posts and your stance seems to be if you go 6-12 months without recurrence, there’s no ethical obligation to discuss. I’m very confused from the various points of information and not sure what to tell new partners about my 15 year old wart.
Thanks a lot for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
I'm not aware of any difference across the Atlantic in knowledge about HPV persistence or recurrences or the natural course of warts. I agree 100% with the statement of your new doc, and I have never said anything different on this forum. The 6-12 month clearance time is the norm, as best we know from the available data; but there are exceptions and I have always said so.
It is very unlikely that a persistent, unchanging lesion for 15 years is a wart. It might have started that way, but by this time I'll bet the wart tissue has been replaced by scar tissue or has evolved into a skin tag. The fact that no partners have developed warts in your sexual relationships supports this view. If in doubt, e.g. if your new doctor believes the lesion is a wart, I suggest you get a second opinion from a dermatologist or a GU medicine clinic.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
It is very unlikely that a persistent, unchanging lesion for 15 years is a wart. It might have started that way, but by this time I'll bet the wart tissue has been replaced by scar tissue or has evolved into a skin tag. The fact that no partners have developed warts in your sexual relationships supports this view. If in doubt, e.g. if your new doctor believes the lesion is a wart, I suggest you get a second opinion from a dermatologist or a GU medicine clinic.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Member Comments (3)
by knicksfan, Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
Sorry Dr. H, I probably should have been more clear. I have not had an active lesion for literally 15 years. After the initial wart was removed, it did not come back and Ive had no recurrances. I explained my past hpv infection to my current doc. She checked me out to be on the safe side but said that because Ive been 'wart free' for all this time, the chance of a recurrance at this point is 'statistically insignificant'.
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 24, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 24, 2006 12:00AMTo: knicksfan
I agree with your doc.
