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I was exposed to a girl with genital warts about 15 months ago. Given her limited sexual history, she most likely got it from me and I at the time was asymptomatic. Months went by and no sign of warts on me. I did notice about 4 months after contact with her a small growth at the base of my penis. It did not appear to be a wart in my mind and I didn't think twice about it. I went to a urologist and he applied vinegar and used magnification and said he saw nothing. I didn't point out the growth specifically and given its right at the hairline, maybe it was missed. I then had one more follow up in September, same finding...no warts...at this point it had been 8-10 months since exposure and he felt I was free and clear. Well, for whatever reason, I feel the need to make sure 100% this little growth is nothing so I am seeing a dermatolgist tomorrow. Today I applied vinegar and let it sit and dry for 5 minutes and there was a mild reaction, the growth is more noticable, a little white. To me, given the additional research I have done...I feel its a wart. I have heard of vinegar giving false-positives, but it makes more sense to me that its a wart.
My question (assume its a wart): This wart has been there for 10 months at least. I have no other warts, nor have I had any other warts. Is it likely that my body cleared/suppressed the HPV infection a long time ago, and one day the wart will die on its own? Or if there is a visible wart, then I am dealing with an active infection?
I was exposed to a girl with genital warts about 15 months ago. Given her limited sexual history, she most likely got it from me and I at the time was asymptomatic. Months went by and no sign of warts on me. I did notice about 4 months after contact with her a small growth at the base of my penis. It did not appear to be a wart in my mind and I didn't think twice about it. I went to a urologist and he applied vinegar and used magnification and said he saw nothing. I didn't point out the growth specifically and given its right at the hairline, maybe it was missed. I then had one more follow up in September, same finding...no warts...at this point it had been 8-10 months since exposure and he felt I was free and clear. Well, for whatever reason, I feel the need to make sure 100% this little growth is nothing so I am seeing a dermatolgist tomorrow. Today I applied vinegar and let it sit and dry for 5 minutes and there was a mild reaction, the growth is more noticable, a little white. To me, given the additional research I have done...I feel its a wart. I have heard of vinegar giving false-positives, but it makes more sense to me that its a wart.
My question (assume its a wart): This wart has been there for 10 months at least. I have no other warts, nor have I had any other warts. Is it likely that my body cleared/suppressed the HPV infection a long time ago, and one day the wart will die on its own? Or if there is a visible wart, then I am dealing with an active infection?
Doctor -
Maybe I should just leave well enough alone but I can't help but see that you wrote after 6 months it's hard to be certain that the warts will stay away. Is this just an exception to your rule of 6 months because he has had warts for 10 months and thus it will take longer to clear or should someone with a more normal case (i.e. mine) be worried after 6 months of no reoccurrence ?
Thanks.
Maybe I should just leave well enough alone but I can't help but see that you wrote after 6 months it's hard to be certain that the warts will stay away. Is this just an exception to your rule of 6 months because he has had warts for 10 months and thus it will take longer to clear or should someone with a more normal case (i.e. mine) be worried after 6 months of no reoccurrence ?
Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, even overt warts eventually go away spontaneous. It's just like common warts of the hands or feet, which most of us get as kids. Typically they disappear after a few weeks or months.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Thank you. I hope I am done with questions to give others more of a chance.
To hit at the science of this: if you have overt warts, and don't treat them, they will at some point go away. I would think that you can clear the virus in a few months, and then the warts themselves eventually die and fall off. But the presence of overt warts after a certain amount of time does not mean an active infection? However, there is no way to tell, so u treat the warts, watch for reoccurance to know for sure.
All the best and thanks.
To hit at the science of this: if you have overt warts, and don't treat them, they will at some point go away. I would think that you can clear the virus in a few months, and then the warts themselves eventually die and fall off. But the presence of overt warts after a certain amount of time does not mean an active infection? However, there is no way to tell, so u treat the warts, watch for reoccurance to know for sure.
All the best and thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your new post was deleted; it wasn't a new problem and should have been posted here. Only a limited number of new questions is possible, so every unnecessary new thread prevents someone from getting in with a new issue. You did the right thing in reposting the follow-up as a comment.
It's hard to answer your question with confidence. Most people clear their warts in a few months, but sometimes it takes a year or more. Since your warts persisted at least 10 months--perhaps longer from the time you actually were infected--you probably should assume a longer than average period to clear them. If your warts resolve with the treatment you just got and haven't recurred after ~6 months, you're probably home free; but hard to be certain.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
It's hard to answer your question with confidence. Most people clear their warts in a few months, but sometimes it takes a year or more. Since your warts persisted at least 10 months--perhaps longer from the time you actually were infected--you probably should assume a longer than average period to clear them. If your warts resolve with the treatment you just got and haven't recurred after ~6 months, you're probably home free; but hard to be certain.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I posted a follow up question since I saw the dermaologist this morning. I don't see the question listed on the list, so this may be redundant.
They are warts, 4 very small ones actually. He froze them.
Its been 10 months since I noticed them....does this mean the clock starts over with me needing to clear HPV from my system or is the more likely case that I cleared it long time ago and these warts are not likely to return now? I have a follow up in 6 weeks.
thanks doc.
They are warts, 4 very small ones actually. He froze them.
Its been 10 months since I noticed them....does this mean the clock starts over with me needing to clear HPV from my system or is the more likely case that I cleared it long time ago and these warts are not likely to return now? I have a follow up in 6 weeks.
thanks doc.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You probably don't have a wart, and such repeated diagnostic attempts aren't worth the time and effort yand apparent anxiety you are feeling. Lack of overt warts so many months after apparent exposure, especially combined with a negative exam by a health care provider--is strong evidence that if you ever were infected, your immune system has long since eradicated it.
As you apparently know, applying vinegar is a lousy test; we never use it to diagnose warts in my STD clinic. It give both false-positive results (white spots that aren't warts) and false-negative ones as well (warts that don't turn white). The main use is in evaluating the cervix of women with HPV infection--not to diagnose HPV, but to determine where to take a biopsy. Its use may be appropriate by the occasional highly experienced observer, such as a well-trained dermatologist or perhaps your urologist, but even there the results often are questionable.
So if you're already scheduled to see a dermatologist, get it checked out again. But please accept his/her assurance if no warts are seen.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
As you apparently know, applying vinegar is a lousy test; we never use it to diagnose warts in my STD clinic. It give both false-positive results (white spots that aren't warts) and false-negative ones as well (warts that don't turn white). The main use is in evaluating the cervix of women with HPV infection--not to diagnose HPV, but to determine where to take a biopsy. Its use may be appropriate by the occasional highly experienced observer, such as a well-trained dermatologist or perhaps your urologist, but even there the results often are questionable.
So if you're already scheduled to see a dermatologist, get it checked out again. But please accept his/her assurance if no warts are seen.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
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.
