Genital Wart Reoccurence after 1 yr and 2 months?

[work602]

My last genital wart was frozen on September 17, 2010.  Before then, it took amount 8 months of on and off freezing to control them.  

Today, November 26, 2011, I found what looks to be like a tiny genital warts in the same area where I previously had some.

It is a tiny white dot and is right on the line where the folds of the penis towards the head meets the shaft of the penis.

I was told that if you go 6 months -1 year without any warts, they are likely gone for good.

Do you think this is indeed a wart (as it looks similar to other ones), or could it be something else?  Any idea why the warts came back?

The tiny white dot did not seem to be there yesterday.

Please let me know if you have any questions so I can be more clear about the situation.

I am concerned as my goal is to have 1-1/2 years without warts before becoming sexual again and I was almost there.

[work602]

Thanks.  I cannot think of another reason as why it would clear quickly in some people and not  with me other than an immune issue.

I do not have any other STD's, I have been tested.

I am also completely lost about when I can have sex again becase even waiting 2 years to have sex after Dec 2009 diagnosis, I still am not clear.

Most frustrating issue I have ever come across.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I doubt that your immune system needs strenghtening.   Another way of looking at the statistic is that one in 10 HPV infections last more than 2 years.  Most of the data on HPV clearance is for the so-called flat warts which are mostly caused by HPV 16 and 18.  My sense is that visible warts may clear a bit slower.  I would not worry.  EWH

[work602]

Hi Doctor,

I saw the dermtologist today and he confirmed it was a wart.  He froze it off.  I guess I rubbed it pretty hard and with dry skin, maybe that's why it came off.

So, latest freeze off is now Dec. 30, 2011.  I was first diagnosed with GW on Dec. 2, 2009.

Any ideas on what I can do to improve my immune system?  I have read over and over than 90% of infections clear after 2 years.  I am clearly outside of the norm, does this indicate I will have continued clearance problems?

Regards,

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sorry, no idea.  Last time you saw the dermatologist it had been rubbed off.  Perhaps if it does not rub off you could have him/her take a look.  Given your description and the fact that it rubs off however it is almost certainly nothing serious.   EWH

[work602]

Hi Doctor,

The tiny white spot has shown up again in the exact same spot.  Any idea what it is?

[work602]

Thanks Doctor, I considered this relevant information to add to the conversation.

Thanks again for your assessment, greatly appreciated.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I though we were done with our exchange.

There are may dermatological processes that recur but wart DO NOT rub off.  As I said above, if it rubbed of, it was not a wart.  EWH

[work602]

Doctor,

I wanted to let you know that I had this same issue about 4 months ago or so.

I had a small white spot around the same area and when I rubbed it a few times, it came off.  My Dermatologist said that it was not a wart because I did not need to cut it off with scissors or something more substantial than rubbing - which is basically what you said.

However, he did say that if it was a wart, it would come back... What are your thoughts on that comment?

Since this happened before, and in the same area, do you have a better idea of what this is... wart or not?

I have been using silicone scar pads and sometimes mederma in this area to try to reduce the appearance of a previous scar that was caused when I froze a wart in the area maybe over a 15 months ago.

Thank you for your thoughts.

[work602]

Thanks Doc for the insight.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

A wart would not have fallen off.  This was not a wart.  The small pink spot will heal.  EWH

[work602]

I'm not sure how to put this, but I masterbated in the shower (sorry about the details) and after getting dressed and all that a few minutes later, I noticed the lesion was gone.  In its place is a small pink spot.

I did not try to rub it off although I guess this is the same idea...

I'm not sure if this changes you opinion about what it was but I would appreciate your insight.

Any specific cleaning action I should do if you suspect it was a wart to help keep the virus from spreading?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The lesion woul need to be examined directly to sort out what it might be.

There are many different normal skin cysts, bumps and variations which this could be.  Sorry I can't be more sp[ecific.  EWH

[work602]

I agree that the 1-1/2 years seems long compared to most suggestions.  Second, I definitely understand that there can be some "outliers".

I guess my main question right now without being able to see my dermatologist at the moment (I am out of the country), is if it is not a wart, what could it likely be?

Is there anything in particular I can describe about it to give you a better idea?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to our Forum.  In preparing to address these concerns, I reviewed many of your past 35 posts, including prior interactions with Dr. Handsfield and me.  There seems to be a theme here.  Both Dr. Handsfield and I have indicated to you that, in our professional judgments, your decision to abstain for 18 months following completion of therapy is far more than either of us would recommend as necessary.  Further your series of posts suggests that you are engaging in extensive self-examination in a manner that, to be honest, may not be in your best interests from a mental health perspective.  I worry that you are overly concerned about what for the vast majority of people who get them (and most people do get HPV), is a trivial problem.  I think this may be a more important observation than the answers to your questions which will follow.

As for you questions, I think the first thing to do is establish that what you have seen is a wart.  I doubt it.  Warts do not appear overnight and you note that what you have observe was not present yesterday.  Talk with your dermatologist an fin out if what you have seen is indeed a wart- this is most important.

If you do have a recurrence, this does not mean that you have anything wrong with you. The data we provide is based on large studies.  In every such study there are a few "outliers" who have late recurrences or fail to clear as in anticipated.  Before we go any further down this line of discussion however, the first thing to o is to find out if what you have seen is indeed a wart.  I doubt that it is.  

Let us know what your dermatologist says.  Please do not let him/her treat the lesions "just in case" as this clearly is not in your best interest.  EWH