Recurrance of HPV

[miles396]

As a younger man I had several partners and "got" genital warts when I was about 25 years old.  They were treated off and on for about a year (freezing, I think, and some could have been cut out).  And to my knowledge they had not come back for 30 years (although not so sure about that now- discussed below).  I had several partners after that and then have been in a loving, monogamous and happy relationship for approximately 26 years.

A few years ago I developed what I thought was "jock itch" and it got better and worse over time.  I never could find a rash or anything so I was reluctant to go in and see a doc but I finally went in and he said I had genital warts.  He found 3 and froze them + put a topical medicine on them.  Told me to come back in 6 weeks.

Now I am faced with talking with my spouse about it.  When I had them so long ago I remember being told they could come back at any time - but then some of the forums talk about the HPV clearing in 2 years, etc. -- which is contrary to what I was told and, now, my experience.  All I know is that I have not been with anyone else for 26 + years and I have the damn warts back.  Is that  possible?

When I said at the beginning that they never came back I am not so sure about that now as I have had similar experiences with what I thought was jock itch that came and went over the years - and without a rash.  

The warts are basically on my groin and maybe lower scrotum - never on penis so hard to see and find.

Finally to the extent those prior versions of jock itch were recurrences of warts and certainly for the last 2 years I have to have had them but my wife has apparently never had any warts and has never had an abnormal pap smear, etc.  So is it possible she is immune and will not get them? We have had an active sex life all of this time (until I was diagnosed last week).  We are both around the same age - approx 58

Thanks in advance for your help  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Thanks for your question.

Warts don't itch.  Whatever was causing that problem over the years is an aneitrely separate issue.  In addition, it is unusual to have persisent warts over many years; if the recent diagnosis of warts is correct, you can safely assume it's a new problem.  Can you say more about the diagnosis, i.e. how it was made?  Warts are almost never "hard to see and find".  Also, the scrotum and groin are not typical locations -- certain it's possible, but given both the apparent atypical appearance and location, I have to wonder ithe diagnosis is correct.  On the other hand, it sounds like you had 3 specific lesions that may have been more typical.  Anyway, tell me more.  Is your doctor a dermatologist

It is true that most genital HPV infections clear up entirely within 1-2 years.  However, delayed recurrence is not all that rare.  If the current diagnsosis is correct, you can safely assume it's a delayed recurrence of your distant past HPV infection.  It is also correct that it's a good bet your wife has previously shared that infection and is now immune.  She should be on the alert for warts in the genital area, but if she doesn't develop anything, nothing need be done; no harm will come.

If you'll fill in some of the uncertainties, I may have some additional comments.  In the meantime, don't freak out.  This isn't a serious health problem either for you or your wife, just a minor inconvenience.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Presumably the PA knew what he was doing and the diagnosis likely was correct.  However, I still have my doubts.  It would be easy to misdiagnose skin tags as warts, for example -- and skin tags are increasingly common as people age, the groin and scrotum are typical locations, and just like warts, skin tags would clear with cryotherapy (freezing).

The rest of your symptoms are entirely inconsistent with warts or other STD.  If they continue, I would recommend you continue to follow up with the dermatology office; and I think it would be reasonable for you to specifically request seeing the doc, however long it takes.  Or consider another dermatolgist entirely for a second opinion.

In any case, that's as far as this thread can go.  Do your best not to worry much about all of this.  None of it sounds at all serious -- and even if the removed lesions were warts, I don't see any likely problem for your wife, or for you in the future.

Good luck.

[miles396]

Thanks so much for your answer.   This place is such a source of good information as opposed to the hype and insanity of most of the internet.

You asked for more information

The diagnosis was at a dermatologist's office but by a PA (and a rather young PA) - it would have taken another 3 months to get an appointment with the Doc.

He took a look and identified the warts and then took a closer look with a magnifying glass (or some magnifying device) and confirmed his original diagnosis.

Whatever I had and have had as a semi-recurring thing over the years has certainly itched - and quite a bit.  But I never could find a rash or anything I would normally be looking for if it was what we used to call jock itch.  The PA said he did not see any evidence of fungal infections (or something like that).

Before I went in I had identified a couple of relatively small bumps on the left groin (one was maybe closer to or on the scrotum) and one on the right groin - but they were not inflamed or red or much of anything - at least until I started scratching them.   Before this last bout (in other similar occurrences) the scenario was to ignore the itch and it would go away but if that did not work, use a bunch of anti-fungal stuff and corn starch etc., and they would after a couple of weeks of that get better.

The other thing I noticed in the last month or so before I went to the doc was that the itching and discomfort got worse if we used a lubricant.  We use pretty mild lubricants, water based and no flavors or heat etc., but that was my experience.

So by now I have gone from worrying about these things as cancer to freaking out about problems in marriage to thinking they are heat rashes or a reaction to lubricant or something like that...

I'll await your comments and then see if I can schedule another appointment and have them take a second look.

Thanks again, in advance for your response.