HPV?

[doihavehpv311]

In November of 2009, I had unprotected oral sex 1x with another male, giving and recieving. Several weeks later, the individual told me they had genital HPV two years earlier, but had been symptom free for 8 months. I did reasearch that told me it could be transmitted orally, and other research told me no. It wasnt until April 2010 that I started wondering if I was being hypochondriatic or if I was having some symptoms. The symptoms were weird sensations around the head of my penis and some slight skin-tone changes. I went to a doctor who told me that if I had something it would have shown by now. I went away relieved for a couple of days, then started worrying again. I went to see another doctor to rule out any other STD's. Everything came back negative, HIV, HSV, etc.... I was still having periodic itching and sensations. On the day I went to the 2nd doctor, he told me I likely didn't have anything, but was just worrying. The very next day I had several non-raised red area's on the head of my penis. Within 3 days, it spread to just about my whole penis. The first doctor told me that there was no test for male hpv, but a vinegar solution would show "white spots." After applying Apple cider vinegar for 1 hour with a cloth, all the red area's had clear white-spots. I also noticed that the application turned some spots to scabs, by the next day. I wore a vinegar cloth for a couple of nights and every spot turned to scab and cleared within a week. The red spots came back, and were itchy two weeks later. I did another application for two nights and they have since cleared and not returned.

Does it sound like I may have HPV?

Did the vinegar clear it? Is this a possible treatment? (some internet research has raving reviews about it)

What is the possibility I have oral HPV myself?
I have had one swollen tonsil for 2 months now. Could this be at all related to HPV? No sore throat at all, no bumps etc.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

  Bumps and red areas on the penis that are not present when a doctor looks are transient and therefore not warts.  If your red spots are present and stable at this time, go see a health care provider, preferably a dermatologist who can help you to sort what this is and how to manage it.

Gardisil is approved for men. It is not always covered by insurance but I recommend it for all patients who have the ability to get it, even if they have had HPV in the past (since it would protect against other HPV strains) EWH

[doihavehpv311]

Thank you for your prompt response.

The red dots that appeared on the head of my penis and also on the rest of my penis turned to scabs after a few nights of applying apple cider vinegar. There was one on the right side that was raised significantly.

What I do know is that I never had redness like that before. I know something happened whether it was hpv or unrelated. And it only happened on my penis. Whatever it was, the vinegar cleared it very well. I know it is not another std due to the negative tests. However, the doctor told me that hpv could not be confirmed or ruled out.

I have researched that HPV can be latent for up to 2 years in some cases, and for men, may not manifest at all. So, how would I know if I have it or not?

The doctors that examined me did not see the red spots.

Thank you for the advice. I have considered my worry to be excessive and have come to terms with hpv as a fact of life. However, I do seek to be informed.

Is the Gardisil vaccine approved for men? Could it ever be used as a treatment?

sincerely appreciated.....

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I'll try to help.  For better or worse, at present genital HPV is a "fact of life" and most people have it or will have it at some point in the future.  Despite this fact, only a tiny minority of persons with HPV get the consequences of infection (primarily women and primarily cancer and pre-cancerous lesions).  HPV is the most commonly acquired STD.  Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives.  The figure for men is less well studied but similar.   Despite how common genital infections are however, oral infections are uncommon and even in those whom become infected, has few consequences with the very, very rare exception of being associated with oral cancers.  When the oral cancers occur, there are almost other co-factors present as well such as smoking or HIV infection.  Thus the possibility that you acquired either oral HPV or genital HPV from receipt of oral sex is extraordinarily low. Even if you had, nearly all HPV infections go away by themselves within 18-24 months of acquisition.  Lets now address your specific concerns and some mis-information.

The vinegar "test" for HPV is terribly inaccurate and your results should not concern you.  In studies over half of areas that turn white or lighten n color with application of vinegar are not HPV.  

HPV infections to not appear and spread as quickly as the process you describe and certainly do not do so more than 6 months following exposure.

Swollen tonsils are not a manifestation of HPV.

It is not clear to me if the rash on the head of your penis you describe is still present or not.  If it is, while I can assure you that it is not HPV or, for that matter, any other STD that you might have acquired back in November, I cannot tell you what it is. It could be an allergic reaction or some other dermatological problem which would be best diganosed by a dermatologist.  

You have been examined for this very rare occurrence now by two doctors and I have told you just how uncommon your concerns are and tried to clarify some mis-information you have received.  You need to stop worrying.   If you cannot, you should try to discuss this with a counselor or some other qualified person who can help you to work through this unjustified, hard to control concern.  EWH