How did I get these?

[silligurl]

I am married and have been with my husband for 8 years.  Prior to him, I had a few sexual partners, most of which were committed relationships.  I tested positive for HPV about 4 years ago.  This was done via pap smear and the doctor put me on antibiotics and in 6 months re-did the test which was negative.  I had no warts or any other signs of this condition at that time nor before or since.

Last night, I was taking a bath and noticed something odd on my genital area.  When I looked closer, I noticed two areas of "growths" and what look to be, more than likely, warts.  I did notice they were in the same area where I recently cut myself while trimming, but I am thinking that is irrelevant.   I am freaking out.  Did my husband cheat?  I know that information says that this can lay dormant for a while, but 8 years????  If I caught a new strand of HPV, does that mean my husband has cheated?  What should I say to him?  

I plan to see my ob/gyn as soon as possible.  What are the most effective and quickest treatments?  Can I request to have them frozen off?  How quickly will they go away?  Will he and I give it back and forth?  How long should we wait to have sex after my warts are gone to be sure that we don't?   Should he get treated too?

I scared and completely mortified to discuss this with my husband and my doctor.  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I have no idea of Aldara plus freezing is the best approach. I have not heard that and am not aware of any large studies that prove or disprove this.  If you got it on the internet, there is a fair chance that it has not been rigorously studies.  You have learned a lot about HPV (perhaps more than you'd like).  My advice would be to discuss this wtht he dermatologist tomorrow.  EWH

[silligurl]

Dr. Hook-
You have been very helpful.  I did not mention my :upus at first, b/c quite frnakly I have had it so long and it does not hinder my life that I really just don;t often think of it as a factor most of the time.  I am concerned my medication suppresses my immune system and that may keep me from "recovering".

I am somewhat concerned my husband may have contracted this and given it to me...not recenrtly but prior to our marriage there was an unconfirmed and ademately denied circumstance followed by months of lack of interest on his part,  May be nothing, may be something.  I suspect again, simply b/c in 8 years I have had nothing, and nothing in all the years prior, and now I do.

Should I ask the dermatologist about the Aldera in combination with the freezing?  I watched a video online stating this was the most effective way to defend the condition, but who knows if you can believe everything you find on the internet?  Would you recommend that as a viable option?  I have the cream, so I hate to waste it, but I am afraid it's either not affecting at all, or is definately having too slow an affect for me.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for the follow-up.  I'm not sure I knew you had lupus until just now.  In the setting of lupus, this could well be a recurrence of an infection that you have had for years and, unless you have other reasons for concern, does not mean that your husband has been unfaithful..

Once the warts are gone, if they do not recurre in 2-3 months, you should consider yourself cured.  

Regarding healing, I would discuss it with the dermatologist at the time you see her/him.  Healing should not take too long.  EWH  

[silligurl]

WOW...thanks so much for responding!!!

I called them today.  They said I was positive for low-risk HPV.  They also tested me for other STD's which were negative (I was not aware they did this).  I have to say I am rather upset with them.  I have been seeing them for years and really feel thay have not been sensitive nor compassionate about my concerns.   The day I was there, she said it was warts or skin cancer but provided me no information about vaginal skin cancer and really seemed to vaguely answer my questions about it.  I completely freaked out when I resorted tot he internet for my information.

Anyway...they asked how the Aldara was working and I told them I had not noticed any change nor any of the side effects generally associated with it.  I told them I wanted to pursue the freezing and they said someone would call me back.  

Nobody has yet.

I have an appointment with a dermatologist (following your advice) Thursday and I let them know that I expect to have them frozen that day.   They were very nice and understanding on the phone (I am still quite emotional about this).  I explained that I have been living in horror for days now waiting for the test results and not wanting to "keep" them any longer than I must.  

Understanding that you cannot really tell me exactly, what is the general recovery time for freezing?  How long until they are gone?  HOw long should I wait to be intimate with my husband, if in fact, I intend to be.  I am still somewhat suspicious that after 8 years together, this is just now something showing up on me.    I know that I have read this lies dormant, and he is not my firest lover, but I just can't imagine that in 21 years of being a sexually active (and careful) woman, never having this kind of issue, that suddenly here it is...but I could be wrong.

Will we pass this between us?  Will I always have to wonder when they will return?  

I am also concerned b/c I have Lupus and take plaquenil that this will somehow keep my body from fighting this virus?  Keep in mind, I have had Lupus longer than I have not (since I was 17 and am now 39).  I have taken plaquenil for 10 years and never had any issues with it or these little creatures that are now living on me.  I see a docotr for Lupus and am in remission.  I also excercise daily and eat very healthy.  I take a multi-vitamin most of the time, but admit I am not a fanatic about that since I eat very healthy.

I just want to make sure, that regardless of what happens, that I do not pass this on to anyone else whether that be back to my husband or someone else should we ever part.  I have read that this will go away in a couple of years and I have read that it never does.  Which is true?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'l be interested to hear of your test results.

The Aldara typically has some irritation associated with it so the lack of irritation may not be such a good thing. Part of the way it works is by inducing irritation.

As i said before, freezing remains the most rapid inexpensive way to address warts unless there are contraindications.  EWH

[silligurl]

Not sure if you will still reply, but it has been a week of using Aldara cream.  I don't even have any results like folks I have read who have burning and itching after using this cream.  I see no results.  

Today I should get the results of whatever test she ran, but I am going to push for freezing.  Is this faster than acid?  How long after freezing will it take for them to go away?  I have read that some people use this Aldara cream after having them frozen and that in combination, this is the most effective.  I was going to ask the doctor about that.  Would you recommend this?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I have to say my approach would be a bit differetn from your dotor's.  As I already said, given your situation, the most direct way to make them go away is probably freezing.  I'm a bit suprised that your doctor did not pick up on your desire to get rid of these ASAP.  Further, I do not know what test was done- there are no culture tests for warts.

As far as the possiblity of warts are concnerned, sometimes they do appear long, long after the infection is acquired or treated.  Even if they do turn out to be warts, 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.  there are over 100 different types of HPV infection.  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 and PAP smears, as you have been doing are a superb means of reducing risks for canncer).  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.  

For additional 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).  

I would try to find out what test was done and/or consider a second opinion with a dermatologist.  EWH

[silligurl]

The doctor says they look like warts and did not think they were skin tags.  She took a culture and said I'd get results in 5 days.  She also said if it's negative that she would biopsy and check for skin cancer?  I have never heard of skin cancer in the vagina?  

She gave me some cream that I am to apply 3 times a week.  I discussed the other options, such a freezing them, but she seemed to think that was extreme and not necessary.  I will wait for the results, but if I read the information I got with the cream, I will push for the freezing if it turns out these are warts.  I am not willing to keep these little hitchhikers for weeks as the pamphlet says it will take 4-6 weeks for them to go away.  

She stated that it's possible I have had this for a long time and that it's just now showing up.  I did test positive a few years ago for HPV (thus the abnormal pap) but that was not the kind that causes warts.    I have since tested negative.

Is what she is telling me true?  Is it possible I have had this and it took THIS FREAKING LONG to show up?  I find that a little hard to believe given what i have read online.  Everything I have read says it takes 3 weeks to 3 months, not 8 years or longer?    She says my husband and I will not pass this back and forth, is that true?   Will these return like herpes?  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Skin tags can be similar in appearance to warts and it would be unusual for warts to appear over the course of just a week.  Furthermore, the type of HPV which causes waaaarts is typically different from the type that causes abnormal PAP smears.  EWH

[silligurl]

They look alot like the pictures of warts on the internet...I am so sick to my stomach I can hardly stand it.  I have an appointment this afternoon.  In reading, it seems more likely to be warts, because I have had 2 abnormal paps in years past.  THere were never any external signs.  They did pop up very quickly and are quite large.  Last week, there was nothing and now I have 2 very large "clusters".  If it were skin tags what would they look like?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  Before we start addressing lots of questions about HPV (wart infections) due to long past relationships, I think you need to be sure of what is there.  What you describe could very easily be skin tags, a reaction to the cuts you describe or other non-STD problems.  I would ask your doctor.

As far as treatment, almost no matter what they are, one of the fastest ways to make these things go away is to have them frozen off.  This will probably make them go away no matter what they are as the freezing destroys the tissue and allows normal tissue to grow back

Hope these comments are helpful.  EWH

[silligurl]

Also, if he did give me a new strain, and it was from an extramarital relationship, how long would it have been for me to now be symptomatic?  

I do not think he has cheated, but I am not sure.