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STDs (Expert Forum)
Please help doctor
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Please help doctor
by collegekid22, Oct 24, 2009 06:12PM
Can you please help me understand all the health risks with HPV in men and let me know if you think the doctors I’ve seen could be wrong.
3 years ago had protected sex and unprotected oral with a girl. The next morning I felt a little tingling burning sensation at the VERY base of my penis/beginning of scrotum area (i guess where the condom didn't cover) that was about the size of a nickel. Same sensation on my upper right lip about the size of a dime.
almost a year ago I notice there is a red rash that covers basically my entire scrotum (I just kinda realized it, I have no clue how quickly/slowly it developed) went to an std doctor fearing the worst.. she had 14 yrs of experience.. said it was jock itch (relief)
Medicine=didn't work. went to dermo. Said that's not an std. Medicine X 3 doesn't work. Said I will have it for life and it's nothing to worry about. 2 or 3 months later decide to get another opinion. Second std doc rt away said that's not hpv, do you know what hpv looks like?
ex who gets checked every sept for hpv talks to me rt at end of sept depressed.
3 days ago I notice i have small bumps on inside of my lips. They are not usual and I had never seen em before. I think it is hpv. Made out w a girl and she got really sick and lost her voice, etc. Had wart removed on left arm at dermo. Have 5 or 6 small warts under my rt arm pit now.
bumps are really small and a good amount of them. In the rash there are TINY bumps that the light has to hit JUST rt to see them.
1st std doc tested for all other stds (including HIV). came back negative. no blood test for herpes.
butt itches now and my left eye, worried I've spread it ALL over my body if that's what it is.
What are all the cancers/health risks associated with hpv? does this sound like hpv? where all can it spread?
3 years ago had protected sex and unprotected oral with a girl. The next morning I felt a little tingling burning sensation at the VERY base of my penis/beginning of scrotum area (i guess where the condom didn't cover) that was about the size of a nickel. Same sensation on my upper right lip about the size of a dime.
almost a year ago I notice there is a red rash that covers basically my entire scrotum (I just kinda realized it, I have no clue how quickly/slowly it developed) went to an std doctor fearing the worst.. she had 14 yrs of experience.. said it was jock itch (relief)
Medicine=didn't work. went to dermo. Said that's not an std. Medicine X 3 doesn't work. Said I will have it for life and it's nothing to worry about. 2 or 3 months later decide to get another opinion. Second std doc rt away said that's not hpv, do you know what hpv looks like?
ex who gets checked every sept for hpv talks to me rt at end of sept depressed.
3 days ago I notice i have small bumps on inside of my lips. They are not usual and I had never seen em before. I think it is hpv. Made out w a girl and she got really sick and lost her voice, etc. Had wart removed on left arm at dermo. Have 5 or 6 small warts under my rt arm pit now.
bumps are really small and a good amount of them. In the rash there are TINY bumps that the light has to hit JUST rt to see them.
1st std doc tested for all other stds (including HIV). came back negative. no blood test for herpes.
butt itches now and my left eye, worried I've spread it ALL over my body if that's what it is.
What are all the cancers/health risks associated with hpv? does this sound like hpv? where all can it spread?
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Oct 24, 2009 06:42PM
, Oct 24, 2009 06:42PM
In preparing to address your concerns I read some of the 19 or so other posts you have made on other sites over that past year. In doing so, I find myself wondering why you mention one particular partner when you have had more than that. I also note that you have seen several doctors (as you mention above) and that some of the problems you mention are problems you have had and discussed for some time. All of this tells me that you worry a lot about STDs. Nothing wrong with that but I hope you aren't letting these sorts of concerns get out of proportion for you. Having said that, a comment or two and then specific answers to the questions you pose.
The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one. I will try to provide some facts. 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). As far as HPV is concerned however, concerns about HPV really should not worry . 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). Men very rarely suffer any serious consequences of HPV. 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. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but in some women it 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 there is far less risk of any sort. .
In addition, it would be my advice to not search the internet on this topic- there is more misinformation than useful information. Similarly. Dealing with issues such as this sometimes requires a bit of trial and error. I would not recommend that you see multiple doctors but just to find one that you feel is knowledgeable and that you are comfortable with and stick with them. Let’s deal with your specifics now.
Our bodies are covered with small bumps and irregularities which typically go un-noticed until we start to worry that something might be wrong. Oral warts are really very uncommon. I suspect the bumps you are worried about are not warts but some other, almost certainly benign process. If I were you and were concerned, I would seek the advice and counsel of a dermatologist but I certainly would not worry. Furthermore and finally, even if you do have warts at one location or another on your body, there is little or no risk of them spreading all over your body in the manner you describe. Warts are not easily spread around the body by normal activities including scratching, rubbing, etc.
Hope these comments help. EWH
The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one. I will try to provide some facts. 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). As far as HPV is concerned however, concerns about HPV really should not worry . 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). Men very rarely suffer any serious consequences of HPV. 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. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but in some women it 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 there is far less risk of any sort. .
In addition, it would be my advice to not search the internet on this topic- there is more misinformation than useful information. Similarly. Dealing with issues such as this sometimes requires a bit of trial and error. I would not recommend that you see multiple doctors but just to find one that you feel is knowledgeable and that you are comfortable with and stick with them. Let’s deal with your specifics now.
Our bodies are covered with small bumps and irregularities which typically go un-noticed until we start to worry that something might be wrong. Oral warts are really very uncommon. I suspect the bumps you are worried about are not warts but some other, almost certainly benign process. If I were you and were concerned, I would seek the advice and counsel of a dermatologist but I certainly would not worry. Furthermore and finally, even if you do have warts at one location or another on your body, there is little or no risk of them spreading all over your body in the manner you describe. Warts are not easily spread around the body by normal activities including scratching, rubbing, etc.
Hope these comments help. EWH
Post Comment
The main reason I've always in the back of my mind thought I've had an std with these problems is because of the incident I mentioned first. I have stopped reading online as that did just create more stress for me. I'm not going to let something get to me where I don't enjoy life, like this was at one point. The main concern I've had recently wasn't whether I had this std or not, it was what the health risks are if I in fact do. Like you said there is a lot of misinformed information online and I just didn't know what to believe. I wanted to hear what a doctor said the health risks are cause if there's a chance I may have it and the health risks are extreme, if it's not caught early, then I would really need to figure out what this truly is. Also, I didn't want to spread it everywhere if there is a high chance of that.
I was going to go see another std doctor, but as you mentioned it might be a better idea to just find a dermatologist. The last question I have for you if you don't mind, is have you heard of or seen hpv in the form of a rash like I have described? I am just confused as to what it is I have, because I don't think it's normal. But then again, I have the toenail fungus that doesn't go away no matter what I use... so maybe this is another situation where I am just going to have to live with another fungus in a warm damp area.
Thank you for your help doctor.
Please excuse me coming back to again ask you. If there needs to be a charge again for an answer go ahead I am just looking for answers/information now instead of waiting. I have a dermatologist appt on Friday morning to get another opinion and hopefully figure out what I am dealing with for sure this time.
I now have a red rash under each arm pit. My one arm pit was sore a couple days last week in what felt like a lymph node. It was just one little spot like a ball. Well I was in the bathroom yesterday and happened to lift up my arm in front of the mirror and saw I had a red rash. Opened my other, another rash!
I told you about the bumps on my lip and they are on the roof of my mouth as well (i'd say close to 20-40 small little bumps) Like the ones on my lip, If you shine a light right on them you can't see them but if you adjust the light so they can make a shadow you can. I also now noticed what looks like a wart on my finger. I also have had pee drip onto my boxers after I finish peeing even if I 'shake' it well for quite some time, but it’s always seemed to be pee and I've never really thought too much about that (but thought maybe I should mention).
I am very worried about oral warts (not informed well at all, and didn't see much about them on that website, any info would be much appreciated -I know it's rare-). If those are indeed oral warts, does that mean I have RRP? And I know you said my rash doesn't suggest HPV, but does HPV come in the form of a rash? I know I worry more than I should, I can't help but let my fears out on here that my problem is hpv... in person I go along like there's nothing wrong, but this is all in the back of my mind. I look forward to hopefully getting some "sure thing" answers on friday to get on the right treatment course.
Given this additional information.. would you have any suggestions for the dermatologist to look for? any idea of what it might be that could be spreading like this? should I ask for a biopsy?
My immune system has not always been the strongest. I used to get sick all the time as a kid. No tonsils now. Had to get allergy shots every wk for 3-4 years to boost my immune system.
I am very grateful for your help on here for informing individuals like myself. I hope to bring some good news back after the doctor appt on Friday.