HPV and Rimming

[jasonstrickham]

1) I was recently with a man and upon going down there, I noticed what seemed to be genital warts on his anal area. I licked the anus before I noticed this though...however; about 2 weeks later, all of this was gone and the anus looked normal...so I performed rimming oral again, and have done so since...this is my question...does this sound like warts? It went away quite fast, but he could have had it for a long time before I encountered him...he says he has never noticed them.

2) We did have penetrative sex, but this was protected...however, if I did rub my penis (w/o condom) near or around his anus while there were not visible warts...what is my risk of contracting the virus?

3) If I touched the visible warts with my hand, then touched my penis...could I contract the virus this way?

4) We did cuddle naked and layed down next to each other and my penis would of course touch his buttocks, what are the chances of contracting the virus? Also, is the virus contained in semen?

5) We did have unprotected oral sex...but there were no warts present on his penis.

6) I have enlarged papillae on my tongue, which I know are normal...however; I have noticed different texture in the tongue surface around them...which has decreased over time...I am not sure if this is HPV scare or am I just worrying myself to death? Also...the back of my throat feels heavy sometimes.

7) My lips and tongue sometimes burn since being with this guy, and am worried that this is HPV concern or symptom.

I know ORAL HPV is rare, but still possible. I am getting into a relationship with a new man and want to be able to kiss him and perform oral on him...but am not sure if this is safe...please help doc.

[jasonstrickham]

Thank you Dr. Hook...I will let this go and go on living a normal life.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sorry, it was my impression that he did not know they were there to start with- you detected them.  If he (or you) are sure they are no longer there, then again, there is nothing to worry about as far as HPV is concerned and I would not hazard a guess as to what they might have been.

No reason to be concerned about giving or receiving oral sex related the exposures you described.

With regards to the tingling, sometimes after an exposure that, in retrospect, one wishes they had not had, persons tend to examine themselves and be far more attuned to genital sensations than in periods when they are not concerned.  This in turn leads to noticing what turn out to be normal sensations that might have been not noticed or ignored at other times.  Tingling is one of the symptoms most often associated with this sort of situation.  

It is now time for this thread to end. Take care.  EWH

[jasonstrickham]

Thank you Dr. Hook...you are a large help. Quick question...when you say have someone take a look, what are you referring to? His anus doesn't have the bumps anymore...and the thing I had is now gone...so there is nothing really to look at. And I know there isn't anything with kissing...but what about giving or receiving oral? Also..what could be the cause for the burning or stinging or tingling of my tongue/lips and gums? Not std related??

[Edward W Hook, MD]

There are many bumps and irregularities which would not be noticed unless a person were specfically looking for somehting.  What you noticed may have been normal.  What you describe however is not consistent with herpes.

Given the low chance of becoming infected, even if what you noticed was warts, I would not worry about transmitting whatever it is that you noticed to another person by kissing.

Thus, I I repeat- "My advice, do not spend a lot more time worrying about this.  Have someone take a look and beyond that, I would not worry unless at some point in the future you notice some new lesion or problem"  EWH

[jasonstrickham]

Sorry to add on...but he also said he didn't notice anything there before I saw them...and aren't herpes usually sore and hurt? Especially around the anus where u defecate and wipe??? I have been getting that burning/tingling/stinging sensation on my tongue and lips...should I be worried in any way? I have a date set up soon and want to be able to kiss him..but wouldn't want to give him herpes. Also, I have a bump on my inner lip that i believe is a cancre sore, because it is white...but it burns/stings a bit.

[jasonstrickham]

Also...seeing how you don't believe they are warts...what could they be? I don't believe they are/were a herpes outbreak...because I don't recall them looking like blisters. I am going to get my HerpeSelect test in a few days, but I know that it can take MONTHS for herpes to show up in your blood stream...I don't want this pass this on to anyone :(

[jasonstrickham]

Thank you Dr. Hook...but my question is, do you think I should be concerned about kissing someone new, or performing oral (unprotected) on someone new (seeing as we are both clean from all other STD's)???

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  In preparing to answer your question I took a look at some of your other 25 posts at various MedHelp community sites.  You are clearly quite nervous about these exposures.  While I can comment in a general way about possibilities and issues of risk, what you really need to do about any lesions of concern is to get yourself evaluated by a trained health care provider who is familiar with STDs.  In many locations this would be your local STD Clinic.

First a general comment about warts.  HPV infections are incredibly common. Current estimates are that 80-90% of adults will have HPV infections at some time in their life.  For most people these are not a major health risk.  For better or worse, at present 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.  In some HPV will cause genital or anal warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears.  In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-24 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.  For men who have sex with other men, particularly if they have HIV, there a risk of problems similar to those detected by PAP smear in women which can indicate risk of anal carcinoma.  Anal Pap smears will detect these.  Warts are otherwise not a major health concern for men.  With this as background, let's address your questions:

1.  This does not sound like warts. There are many things that can mimic warts and for warts to resolve/disappear in just two weeks without therapy would be unusual. They go away more gradually.

2.  While there is some theoretical risk, the actual risk is small but difficult to quantify.

3.  Ano-genital warts are not effectively transmitted by contact with skin of the hands or fingers.

4.  See number 2 above.  HPV is a skin virus and is not transmitted by semen.

5-7.  You are over thinking this.  Sometimes after an exposure that, in retrospect, one wishes they had not had, persons tend to examine themselves and be far more attuned to genital sensations than in periods when they are not concerned.  This in turn leads to noticing what turn out to be normal bodily variations or sensations that might have been not noticed or ignored at other times.  Perhaps this is a contributor to your situation.

My advice, do not spend a lot more time worrying about this.  Have someone take a look and beyond that, I would not worry unless at some point in the future you notice some new lesion or problem.  EWH

[jasonstrickham]

Also, there is a small lesion near my pubic region that I had picked at and it is now gone...I am not sure whether or not this was a wart though.