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Genital Warts mixed messages
3 years ago I had 3 small warts removed from my genital area. I have had no new warts since, When I was treatin them I had a doctor use an acid to burn a small wart and spilled it on me and I had very bad burns and left small darks spots of pigmentation. I recently had a labialplasty and I asked the surgeon to remove these small dark patches, During follow up he told me he tested the tissue he removed and there was no abnormalty or infected. My question is I am in a new relationship with a wonderful man. Can I feel ok about not telling him about this wart thing 3 years ago? if I did I know it would end.....and I am really happy for the 1st time in 3 years......DR HANDSFIELD I watched you on UTUBE you made me feel better.....any suggestions....
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your question, and for your kind comments about the HPV video that I recorded on behalf of the American Social Health Association; others who are interested should be able to find the video at www.ashastd.org.
Genital warts rarely last as long as 3 years, even without treatment. As a rough rule of thumb, if warts clear up with treatment, I generally advise patients that if there is no recurrence within 6 months, future recurrence is unlikely and there is little likelihood of transmission to partners. These are only rough estimates and exceptions occur, but they are not common. Further, when HPV types 6 and 11 (which cause 90% of genital warts) involve the cervix, the infection almost always clears up on its own within a year and certainly within 24 months.
For those reasons, you can be very confident you don't still have warts or the underlying HPV infection that caused them. "Dark parches" is not typical for warts and I doubt they had anything to do with your past geital warts; and if an active HPV infection is present, the biopsy test would have found it.
Should you tell your new partner about your past genital warts? There is no hard and fast answer. For the reasons above, the chances you still have HPV 6/11 and that your partner would acquire the infection and develop warts are very low. But exceptions occur and I cannot say there is no risk. In the unlikely chance warts (re)appear, your partner might feel uncomfortable to only learn then of your past infection. But if you say nothing, it is very unlikely this issue will ever arise. A final thought on this is that your partner could be immunized with Gardasil, the HPV vaccine that protects against HPV 6, 11, and the two types (16-18) that cause most cervical and genital cancers. Then he would be protected if you should have a future recurrence.
You could also look at this from a relationship standpoint. Many couples, in the interest of openness and mutual respect, someday have conversations about past partners, past STDs, and so on. Others do not do so. This is strictly an STD forum and we don't advise about sexual relationships, so that's all I'll say about it.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Genital warts rarely last as long as 3 years, even without treatment. As a rough rule of thumb, if warts clear up with treatment, I generally advise patients that if there is no recurrence within 6 months, future recurrence is unlikely and there is little likelihood of transmission to partners. These are only rough estimates and exceptions occur, but they are not common. Further, when HPV types 6 and 11 (which cause 90% of genital warts) involve the cervix, the infection almost always clears up on its own within a year and certainly within 24 months.
For those reasons, you can be very confident you don't still have warts or the underlying HPV infection that caused them. "Dark parches" is not typical for warts and I doubt they had anything to do with your past geital warts; and if an active HPV infection is present, the biopsy test would have found it.
Should you tell your new partner about your past genital warts? There is no hard and fast answer. For the reasons above, the chances you still have HPV 6/11 and that your partner would acquire the infection and develop warts are very low. But exceptions occur and I cannot say there is no risk. In the unlikely chance warts (re)appear, your partner might feel uncomfortable to only learn then of your past infection. But if you say nothing, it is very unlikely this issue will ever arise. A final thought on this is that your partner could be immunized with Gardasil, the HPV vaccine that protects against HPV 6, 11, and the two types (16-18) that cause most cervical and genital cancers. Then he would be protected if you should have a future recurrence.
You could also look at this from a relationship standpoint. Many couples, in the interest of openness and mutual respect, someday have conversations about past partners, past STDs, and so on. Others do not do so. This is strictly an STD forum and we don't advise about sexual relationships, so that's all I'll say about it.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to have helped. Thanks for the thanks. Take care.
Thank you for your response. Just wanted to clarify that the dark spots were changes in the skin pigmentation due to the severe burn resulting from the Dr. spilling the liquid he was using all over my genital area. The surgeon removed the dark spots for cosmetic reasons but tested it because he knew what it resulted from. Again thank you for your response. Need more doctors like you in the world.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
