HPV question

[terrified29]

I am a 21 year old sexually active male and my dermatologist says he thinks i have HPV. I have seen deveral other doctors including a urologist who says that it is nothing. The bump was removed and it is being biopsied and i should have the results soon. But in case it is HPV i want to know what to do now so i have a few questions:
1. Can my body fight off the virus? will i have it for the rest of my life?

2. if i only have one small bump, what are the chances of passing this on to a future sexual partner?

3. How long could i have had this for before i would show symptoms?

4. do the strains that cause warts also cause cancer?

5. Should i feel the need to go back and tell past partners? how long far back should i go if so?

6. will the vaccine for women protect future partners if they get it?

7. is there anything else the doc could have misdiagnosed this as?  

Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one.  I will try to provide some facts.  For addition information on this most common of STDs, I would suggest search for other HPV- and wart-related Q&A on this site, as well seeking addition information on sites such as the American Social health Association web-site (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of ASHA)..

Now, on to HPV.  HPV is the most commonly acquired STD.  Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives.  There is less data for men but it likely that the figure is similar for men.  In some women HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears.  In men the infection typically causes warts of chronic skin changes (sort of a rash).   In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-10 months.  In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated.  With this as background, let's address your questions:

1.  Most warts last about six months.  The body then fights them off and makes them go away.
2.  If the wart has been removed by biopsy, there is a slight chance that it may recur.  If there is not recurrence in the next three-six months there is no reason to worry about further transmission from the lesion.
3.  Hard to say, several weeks while it was growing.  The only real "symptom" of most warts is seeing them.
4.  No, the strains that cause warts hardly ever cause cancer.
5.  This is a common question.  In general neither of us on this site recommends going back to prior partners.  The reasons for this are multiple including that the infection is largely self limited, that most sexually active persons already have or will have HPV and that notification tends to cause much unwarranted anxiety with few benefits.  Some folks feel obligated to notify partners however.  In doing this there is not guideline as to how far back to go in doing so.
6.  Not sure of the question.  If it is would that vaccine prevent future infection in you, the answer is probably.  Although not licensed for men, it should work.  The downside is that insurance would not pay for it and it costs about $360.00 for the vaccine alone.
7.  It is not worthwhile to go there.  I would just wait for the biopsy.

Hope this helps.  Please let us know what your biopsy shows and what you deicide to do.  EWH