Aa
PPP or HPV still
Hi doctor,
I hope I am just being paranoid, but I wanted to ask a question about a diagnosis I received 4 months ago. To go back 4 months before that in October 08 I went to the doctor because I had some bumps on my glans. this doctor saw nothing abnormal but sent me to a dermatologist. He looked at them and said they were flat warts and used liquid nitrogen to burn some off and then i used the aldara for the rest of the time. throughout this treatment he said things looked good and the redness was because the cream was working. In February after 16 weeks of aldara i went back to the same dermatologist and he said everything was clear. I still had some small bumps that looked more like dry skin that was raised near the front edge and around the head of the penis. He looked somewhat quickly and said they were normal and were penile papules, though they look nothing like the pictures. The warts I had looked nothing like the pictures either though. I have since met a girl and am getting a little paranoid because I don't want to start up treatment again. The bumps have not changed I don't think and I think I may be looking too closely. When i stretch the skin I can see very small bumps that are also on the left side of the glans and a little around the urethral opening. They do not seem like warts or anything and I have gone w/ his advice that everything was ok up to this point. But now, on the verge of possibly entering into a sexual relationship again, I am a little paranoid and do not want to pass it on negligently. I also do not know if I should tell her about having HPV previously if it is cleared up and probably suppressed by my immune system w/ nothing to really worry about. I cannot make it to the dr. yet because of my job hours so I would like another opinion in the meantime, thanks
I hope I am just being paranoid, but I wanted to ask a question about a diagnosis I received 4 months ago. To go back 4 months before that in October 08 I went to the doctor because I had some bumps on my glans. this doctor saw nothing abnormal but sent me to a dermatologist. He looked at them and said they were flat warts and used liquid nitrogen to burn some off and then i used the aldara for the rest of the time. throughout this treatment he said things looked good and the redness was because the cream was working. In February after 16 weeks of aldara i went back to the same dermatologist and he said everything was clear. I still had some small bumps that looked more like dry skin that was raised near the front edge and around the head of the penis. He looked somewhat quickly and said they were normal and were penile papules, though they look nothing like the pictures. The warts I had looked nothing like the pictures either though. I have since met a girl and am getting a little paranoid because I don't want to start up treatment again. The bumps have not changed I don't think and I think I may be looking too closely. When i stretch the skin I can see very small bumps that are also on the left side of the glans and a little around the urethral opening. They do not seem like warts or anything and I have gone w/ his advice that everything was ok up to this point. But now, on the verge of possibly entering into a sexual relationship again, I am a little paranoid and do not want to pass it on negligently. I also do not know if I should tell her about having HPV previously if it is cleared up and probably suppressed by my immune system w/ nothing to really worry about. I cannot make it to the dr. yet because of my job hours so I would like another opinion in the meantime, thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I just can't say any more than I already have, based on that description. My guess as stated above still stands.
thanks for the prompt response! I had one other question: The bumps that do exist are very very tiny, probably less than 1 mm in diameter and height and only visible if i really stretch the skin; are they more likely to be normal variations of my skin or could they even be warts? they seem too small and are only on the left side though, maybe around 10 to 15 of them.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
Unfortuantely, I really can't help. A dermatologist's in-person diagnosis of any genital skin condition, including genital warts and pearly penile papules, is far more reliable than anything a distant expert can tell by written description. Usually genital warts clear up completely with the treatment you had, and if they are going to recur, new warts pop up sooner than this. So my guess is that most likely you no longer have an active HPV infection. But I stress that's just a guess. Your dermatologist is the one with the answer.
The other issue here concerns the extent to which anybody with past HPV infection is obligated to inform future sex partners about it. My view is that since most infections do clear up within a few months and can no longer be transmitted, there is no need to inform future partners, at least not more than 6 months later. On the other hand, in the slight chance your partner does develop warts in the future, it might be better if she were aware of the possibility ahead of time; she might be pretty unhappy with you if that happens and you hadn't said anything. Anyway, it has to be your choice; there is no clear right or wrong approach.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Unfortuantely, I really can't help. A dermatologist's in-person diagnosis of any genital skin condition, including genital warts and pearly penile papules, is far more reliable than anything a distant expert can tell by written description. Usually genital warts clear up completely with the treatment you had, and if they are going to recur, new warts pop up sooner than this. So my guess is that most likely you no longer have an active HPV infection. But I stress that's just a guess. Your dermatologist is the one with the answer.
The other issue here concerns the extent to which anybody with past HPV infection is obligated to inform future sex partners about it. My view is that since most infections do clear up within a few months and can no longer be transmitted, there is no need to inform future partners, at least not more than 6 months later. On the other hand, in the slight chance your partner does develop warts in the future, it might be better if she were aware of the possibility ahead of time; she might be pretty unhappy with you if that happens and you hadn't said anything. Anyway, it has to be your choice; there is no clear right or wrong approach.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
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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.
