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STDs (Expert Forum)
Anal warts fun
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.
Anal warts fun
by ChicShane, Mar 12, 2006 12:00AM
I'm a heterosexual male who has never had anal sex. About 2 years ago I had one unprotected instance of intercourse and developed genital and anal warts. The genital warts went away after 12 months, but the anal warts have not. I have three questions.
1. My current girlfriend (who knows about my warts) has never developed genital or anal warts or an abnormal pap. My doctor says that since warts take hold on specific areas of the body, it's likely that the HPV around my genitals has cleared and there is no viral load there which explains why my gf has not got them. Is this true that the viral load could be eliminated from my genital area but continue to be active around my anus? My gf doesn’t go near there during sex although my doctor says incidental contact is always possible... but it’s very possible the HPV has cleared from my penis area.
2. Every six weeks I go to a doctor to have my external anal warts cauterized off (I don't have internal ones). This is very painful and expensive ($400) as I don't have health insurance. And just like the old Faithful Geyser, they come back right on cue, about two weeks after I remove them. This has been going on over a year. From what I read on Dr. Rockoff's forum, it sounds like I am wasting a lot money and enduring a lot of pain and I should probably just forget about getting them removed and keep an eye on them to make sure they don't get too big or uncomfortable as ONE day they will just go away. What do you think about this? The ones that get zapped come back, and then when they do go away, new ones pop up elsewhere. And then back to the doc for a lot of money and pain. These are all very tiny, some flat, some the size of pinheads. They don't hurt. Should I stop wasting my money and just keep an eye on them?
3. I've read that ALL warts (including hand and plantar) *usually* go away on their own after about two years. Is this your experience?
1. My current girlfriend (who knows about my warts) has never developed genital or anal warts or an abnormal pap. My doctor says that since warts take hold on specific areas of the body, it's likely that the HPV around my genitals has cleared and there is no viral load there which explains why my gf has not got them. Is this true that the viral load could be eliminated from my genital area but continue to be active around my anus? My gf doesn’t go near there during sex although my doctor says incidental contact is always possible... but it’s very possible the HPV has cleared from my penis area.
2. Every six weeks I go to a doctor to have my external anal warts cauterized off (I don't have internal ones). This is very painful and expensive ($400) as I don't have health insurance. And just like the old Faithful Geyser, they come back right on cue, about two weeks after I remove them. This has been going on over a year. From what I read on Dr. Rockoff's forum, it sounds like I am wasting a lot money and enduring a lot of pain and I should probably just forget about getting them removed and keep an eye on them to make sure they don't get too big or uncomfortable as ONE day they will just go away. What do you think about this? The ones that get zapped come back, and then when they do go away, new ones pop up elsewhere. And then back to the doc for a lot of money and pain. These are all very tiny, some flat, some the size of pinheads. They don't hurt. Should I stop wasting my money and just keep an eye on them?
3. I've read that ALL warts (including hand and plantar) *usually* go away on their own after about two years. Is this your experience?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Mar 13, 2006 12:00AM
, Mar 13, 2006 12:00AM
I'll try to help - but this is an area without much data, mostly just various providers' experience and opinions.
1) Your doctor may be right about your not having HPV in and around your genital area--but I don't think there are data to prove it one way or the other. Even if your HPV infection is limited to the anal area, With or without direct contact with your anal area, you and your girlfriend should assume she will be exposed to HPV. But as you probably know (I recognize your username from previous dialogs on this forum), if she gets infected she'll probably never know it.
2. I'm more in agreement with Dr. Rockoff. When anal warts first appear, it is reasonable to attempt to eradicate them when they are small. But if that doesn't work and they keep returning, most experts would say the main indication for further therpy is when they enlarge to the point they produce discomfort, get irritated, or interfere with anal hygiene (difficult to keep free from fecal contamination, which in turn can lead to irritation, odor etc). The downside, as the proctologists will be quick to point out, is that delaying too long can make treatment more difficult.
3. Yes, eventually the vast majority of warts resolve over a few months to a couple of years. There are exceptions, but that's the rule.
I hope this helps. Good luck--
HHH, MD
1) Your doctor may be right about your not having HPV in and around your genital area--but I don't think there are data to prove it one way or the other. Even if your HPV infection is limited to the anal area, With or without direct contact with your anal area, you and your girlfriend should assume she will be exposed to HPV. But as you probably know (I recognize your username from previous dialogs on this forum), if she gets infected she'll probably never know it.
2. I'm more in agreement with Dr. Rockoff. When anal warts first appear, it is reasonable to attempt to eradicate them when they are small. But if that doesn't work and they keep returning, most experts would say the main indication for further therpy is when they enlarge to the point they produce discomfort, get irritated, or interfere with anal hygiene (difficult to keep free from fecal contamination, which in turn can lead to irritation, odor etc). The downside, as the proctologists will be quick to point out, is that delaying too long can make treatment more difficult.
3. Yes, eventually the vast majority of warts resolve over a few months to a couple of years. There are exceptions, but that's the rule.
I hope this helps. Good luck--
HHH, MD
HHH, MD