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Scared-HPV, Herpes?
Hi,
Have a number of questions regarding an encounter and diagnosis I recieved the encounter occuring on 12/15 and my biopsy about a week later. I am in a monogomous relationship and have been for about 7 years, I slipped up at a strip club and one of the girls put her hand down my pants during a lap dance. The contact occured over about 4 songs (12 mins?), but it was not the entire time I'd say 2-3 minutes tops of actual touching and I was flacid the entire time. The encounter was Saturday morning (3 AM ish), I flipped out the next morn. Sunday night while searching for lesions/whatever I noticed a bump on the lower end of my penis where the scrotum meets the shaft; it appeared to be "in the skin" as Dr. HHH likes to say but I went the following monday to P Parenthood and she told me it did not look like herpes. I followed up that thursday with a trip to my dermatologist PA who said it looked like foliculitis and gave me antibacterial cream for the zit. Come monday I didn't see much improvement or change, it wasn't really blistered on the spot it had a white dot or two on the "zit" but on my trip that day again to the derm he said they just looked like whiteheads (there was also a small hair growing under the biopsy spot). At my insistence he took a biopsy of the spot and sent it to the lab for HSV and HPV. The test came back positive as HPV,neg HSV: in the past 3 years my only other slip up was protected oral (with a csw seven months ago tested all neg 6 mon after) I am lost at where the HPV could of come from: I'm the only person she has been with and I have not had vaginal/anal sex or contact at all with anyone else since we started dating. The 2nd doctor also said the wart was old as the pathologist (just looked under mircroscope I think) said no virus was present; I had it frozen to be safe. Could the biopsy have been wrong and is it still possible it was herpes? I know hand-genital contact you say is essentially no risk but I am lost in the matter!
Have a number of questions regarding an encounter and diagnosis I recieved the encounter occuring on 12/15 and my biopsy about a week later. I am in a monogomous relationship and have been for about 7 years, I slipped up at a strip club and one of the girls put her hand down my pants during a lap dance. The contact occured over about 4 songs (12 mins?), but it was not the entire time I'd say 2-3 minutes tops of actual touching and I was flacid the entire time. The encounter was Saturday morning (3 AM ish), I flipped out the next morn. Sunday night while searching for lesions/whatever I noticed a bump on the lower end of my penis where the scrotum meets the shaft; it appeared to be "in the skin" as Dr. HHH likes to say but I went the following monday to P Parenthood and she told me it did not look like herpes. I followed up that thursday with a trip to my dermatologist PA who said it looked like foliculitis and gave me antibacterial cream for the zit. Come monday I didn't see much improvement or change, it wasn't really blistered on the spot it had a white dot or two on the "zit" but on my trip that day again to the derm he said they just looked like whiteheads (there was also a small hair growing under the biopsy spot). At my insistence he took a biopsy of the spot and sent it to the lab for HSV and HPV. The test came back positive as HPV,neg HSV: in the past 3 years my only other slip up was protected oral (with a csw seven months ago tested all neg 6 mon after) I am lost at where the HPV could of come from: I'm the only person she has been with and I have not had vaginal/anal sex or contact at all with anyone else since we started dating. The 2nd doctor also said the wart was old as the pathologist (just looked under mircroscope I think) said no virus was present; I had it frozen to be safe. Could the biopsy have been wrong and is it still possible it was herpes? I know hand-genital contact you say is essentially no risk but I am lost in the matter!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You have a biopsy-proved wart, so another opinion doesn't seem necessary. Aldara probably is worth a try, but I don't give specific treatment advice. If you remain uncertain, talk again with your dermatologist about it.
That's definitely the end of this thread. I won't have anything more to say.
That's definitely the end of this thread. I won't have anything more to say.
So still get a second opinion or just start the Aldara?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I suggest you continue to rely on your dermatologist. His assessment is much more accurate than anything I can manage by written description. I won't have anything more to say. Best wishes.
Sorry... One more thing... I tried the ointment for about 5 days but didn't see any improvement so I went back... Perhaps I rushed things.
It was a dermatologist that I saw... Should I seek a second opinion? I guess it's shrunk both times they sid "it looks like something is still there" but the freezing has left a pretty nasty scar so I have no idea... It was origionally biopsied and apparently was growing upside down in the first place... There hasn't been an overt "bump" since my 1st visit when he took the biopsy.. I'm now at a different doc as I had to go back to school. Also at one point there was a small hair growing out of it but the freezing killed it I think. I don't know what exactly to ask/look for he told me a 2 month follow up after the Aldara.. Would I need a biopsy again? Or is there a culture? Also what else could it be foliculitis? Hopefully not hsv..? Sorry for the million questions I'm scared and frustrated by the whole situation and don't really know how to pursue it. The scar it's left from the freezing is a little deeper in the center but it might still be healing as it's only been a month. Prior to the biopsy the 1st pa gave me antibiotic ointment as he thought it was foliculitis... But after insisting on the biopsy it came out as a wart. Thank you for your patience with me Dr H... I appreciate your help very much'
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Most warts will at least shrink up under the usual treatments, usually within a few days of treatment, let alone 3 months. Lack of any response at all suggests that perhaps the lesion isn't a wart after all. Raise this possibility with your health care provider, or see a dermagolotist. I suggest you not start the Aldara until and unless the diagnosis is confirmed; partial treatment can make diagnosis more difficult.
Warts are rarely if ever transmitted by oral sex. If you have a wart, I doubt it has anything to do with your CSW exposure last July.
Warts are rarely if ever transmitted by oral sex. If you have a wart, I doubt it has anything to do with your CSW exposure last July.
Dr. Handsfield-
I was hoping I could maybe run couple more things by you I realize it's been a month or so since this thread. In that time I have had my wart sprayed twice by my dermatologist and it apparently still has yet to go completely away. Today he gave me a prescription for Aldara which I am going to begin tonight. I'm a little upset the thing hasn't cleared up and needless to say it's not doing wonders for my relationship. Is it usual for a wart not to go away after 3 months and two sprays? I just don't get it. Also, I know you say it's useless to try and determine where it came from... but just for knowledge sake is it likely that it occurred from receiving oral from that CSW last July? I don't quite understand the mechanics of HPV. As I said before it's my only real stray in 4 years and I'm disgusted by myself. I'm just a little lost in the situation and am praying to get it resolved ASAP. Would really appreciate your guidance...
Thanks
I was hoping I could maybe run couple more things by you I realize it's been a month or so since this thread. In that time I have had my wart sprayed twice by my dermatologist and it apparently still has yet to go completely away. Today he gave me a prescription for Aldara which I am going to begin tonight. I'm a little upset the thing hasn't cleared up and needless to say it's not doing wonders for my relationship. Is it usual for a wart not to go away after 3 months and two sprays? I just don't get it. Also, I know you say it's useless to try and determine where it came from... but just for knowledge sake is it likely that it occurred from receiving oral from that CSW last July? I don't quite understand the mechanics of HPV. As I said before it's my only real stray in 4 years and I'm disgusted by myself. I'm just a little lost in the situation and am praying to get it resolved ASAP. Would really appreciate your guidance...
Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your two HSV-2 blood test values are equally negative. The numbers vary from test to test, and even the same blood specimen might have a number of 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 on different runs of the test. Both your results show no detectable HSV-2 antibody in your blood.
I have no comment about what pathologists look for in judging whether a biopsy shows HSV. But herpes was never a possible explanation for the penile lesion.
That's all for this thread.
I have no comment about what pathologists look for in judging whether a biopsy shows HSV. But herpes was never a possible explanation for the penile lesion.
That's all for this thread.
Hi Doc H,
I got my results and spoke with my provider as you reccomended.
hsv 1: .21
hsv 2: .38
So both were negative on the herpselect test by quest; I had a previous test done in October and my HSV 2 was at .4 so apparently it's decreased; don't know if that matters. The PA I saw said the presentation did not look like HSV... And he said that the pathologist said it did not look like herpes... I guess he looked for multi-nucleic cells? I don't quite understand the procedure...Would be greatful for your opinion on whether you think I need another test in a few weeks etc. Just as a reminder it's been 7 months since my only other encounter. Thank you so much for your help!
I got my results and spoke with my provider as you reccomended.
hsv 1: .21
hsv 2: .38
So both were negative on the herpselect test by quest; I had a previous test done in October and my HSV 2 was at .4 so apparently it's decreased; don't know if that matters. The PA I saw said the presentation did not look like HSV... And he said that the pathologist said it did not look like herpes... I guess he looked for multi-nucleic cells? I don't quite understand the procedure...Would be greatful for your opinion on whether you think I need another test in a few weeks etc. Just as a reminder it's been 7 months since my only other encounter. Thank you so much for your help!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You should be asking these questions of the provider who did the biopsy. I'll be happy to comment on your HSV blood test (which was unnecessary) when it is available. No more comments or questions until then, please.
Sorry, haven't gotten the results yet.
Also, I had an IGG test for hsv 1/2 done (it's been 4 weeks now) just to try and ease my nerves...
Dr. HHH-
Just wanted to run one thing by you... would you say the biopsy performed is enough to rule out HSV from that spot? I believe the pathologist just looked at it under a microscope for some sort of cell found in hsv lesions or something? The PA said direct fluorescent examination wasn't necessary. Either way, whatever it was it came back negative although, I don't completely understand what they did. Just trying to make sure, the timing of my discovery of the "wart" really freaks me out but I do appreciate your reassurances.
Just wanted to run one thing by you... would you say the biopsy performed is enough to rule out HSV from that spot? I believe the pathologist just looked at it under a microscope for some sort of cell found in hsv lesions or something? The PA said direct fluorescent examination wasn't necessary. Either way, whatever it was it came back negative although, I don't completely understand what they did. Just trying to make sure, the timing of my discovery of the "wart" really freaks me out but I do appreciate your reassurances.
Thanks Dr. Handsfield I appreciate it you're help!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Most likely your immune system indeed has cleared the virus or will do so soon. If the wart recurs, most likely it would be at or near the same spot.
Even if you have new sexual relationships in the future, this should not be of any concern. Genital HPV should be viewed as a normal consequence of human sexuality. Nobody wants it, but it isn't abnormal to have it.
Even if you have new sexual relationships in the future, this should not be of any concern. Genital HPV should be viewed as a normal consequence of human sexuality. Nobody wants it, but it isn't abnormal to have it.
So if my doctor said that the wart was old based on the the pathologists report (he mentioned that it most likely wasn't transmittable?) would that mean that my immune system has likely cleared the virus? I realize it's pretty much impossible to tell. I'm just afraid that it could be persistent? Should I be looking for a wart in the same spot (recurring?) and if nothing comes back in 3-6 months I don't have to mention it again? I don't plan/forsee myself having other partners... I'll probably end up with the girl I am currently dating for good but want to be sure just in case!
Sorry didn't see your second reply!
Thanks Doc,
I appreciate the prompt reply; so I should rely on the diagnosis then. At least I can be happy it's not herpes I suppose! I'm just dumbfounded that it could of happened with no other partners in 7 years and only two oral situations besides that? I thought it normally cleared up in two and wasn't transmitted via receptive oral. I di (the latest being 7 months ago? I spent a awful lot of time after my CSW man handling myself looking for things maybe that was it? I just don't know how I could of missed it. Anyway, either way I guess it's not a big deal as long as it clears up. Would you reccomend condom use for the next few months with my girlfriend? I came clean about the HPV infection, obviously. I haven't been with her since the strip club adventure as I was scared of possibly giving her something. I hate to bother you with the "what ifs" I know they are a pet peve. Just wondering how to proceed? Thanks!
I appreciate the prompt reply; so I should rely on the diagnosis then. At least I can be happy it's not herpes I suppose! I'm just dumbfounded that it could of happened with no other partners in 7 years and only two oral situations besides that? I thought it normally cleared up in two and wasn't transmitted via receptive oral. I di (the latest being 7 months ago? I spent a awful lot of time after my CSW man handling myself looking for things maybe that was it? I just don't know how I could of missed it. Anyway, either way I guess it's not a big deal as long as it clears up. Would you reccomend condom use for the next few months with my girlfriend? I came clean about the HPV infection, obviously. I haven't been with her since the strip club adventure as I was scared of possibly giving her something. I hate to bother you with the "what ifs" I know they are a pet peve. Just wondering how to proceed? Thanks!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Since you have apparently had your HPV infection for a long time, it is clear your girlfriend has already been exposed to it. She could have been the source of your infection; but if not, she probably already has been infected. If she is having no symptoms, she doesn't need to do anything at this point. The next time she sees her primary care provider for her annual reproductive health visit, she should mention your wart problem then follow her provider's advice -- which most likely will be simply to reinforce the importance of annual pap smears. Of course if she sees any warts or other apparent abnormality, she should get it checked out without waiting for her annual visit.
She is not at risk for anything in connection with the strip club events.
She is not at risk for anything in connection with the strip club events.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
I stopped reading your question to give an initial reply when I got to "one of the girls put her hand down my pants during a lap dance". If that is the only potential exposure you had, there was no risk. STDs are not transmitted by hand-genital contact. It won't matter what I see when I go back to read the rest of your question. Whatever symptoms or other concerns you have, they are unlrelated to your strip club adventure.
Now I have read the rest. Your genital wart (i.e., the biopsy-proved HPV infection) was caught sometime other than the strip club event. It typically takes several weeks for warts to show up, but it's usually not possible to pinpoint an HPV infection to any particular sexual exposure. You could have had it for anywhere from several weeks to a couple of years. I cannot comment on whether the wart was "old" or not -- your dermatologist is in a much better position than I am. But I see no reason you should not trust his opinion.
As for the follow-up comments/questions below: First, thanks for the new year wishes. Same to you.
Unlike many STDs, genital warts (and other genital HPV infections) are just as common in people at "low" versus "high" risk for STD. Almost every sexually active person gets genital HPV at one time or another. In one research study of initially virgin women, 20% caught HPV from their very first sex partner and 40% were infected after they had two or more partners. Condoms reduce the risk of HPV, but by nowhere near 100% -- so even consistent condom users can expect to catch HPV.
Bottom line: You have a genital wart, maybe old; you will never know when and where you caught it. You caught no STD during the lap dance.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I stopped reading your question to give an initial reply when I got to "one of the girls put her hand down my pants during a lap dance". If that is the only potential exposure you had, there was no risk. STDs are not transmitted by hand-genital contact. It won't matter what I see when I go back to read the rest of your question. Whatever symptoms or other concerns you have, they are unlrelated to your strip club adventure.
Now I have read the rest. Your genital wart (i.e., the biopsy-proved HPV infection) was caught sometime other than the strip club event. It typically takes several weeks for warts to show up, but it's usually not possible to pinpoint an HPV infection to any particular sexual exposure. You could have had it for anywhere from several weeks to a couple of years. I cannot comment on whether the wart was "old" or not -- your dermatologist is in a much better position than I am. But I see no reason you should not trust his opinion.
As for the follow-up comments/questions below: First, thanks for the new year wishes. Same to you.
Unlike many STDs, genital warts (and other genital HPV infections) are just as common in people at "low" versus "high" risk for STD. Almost every sexually active person gets genital HPV at one time or another. In one research study of initially virgin women, 20% caught HPV from their very first sex partner and 40% were infected after they had two or more partners. Condoms reduce the risk of HPV, but by nowhere near 100% -- so even consistent condom users can expect to catch HPV.
Bottom line: You have a genital wart, maybe old; you will never know when and where you caught it. You caught no STD during the lap dance.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Was also wondering if I could put putting my girlfriend at risk from anything with my latest screw up (strip club)/how to deal with this apparent HPV?
Sorry thought I'd mention I've only had 2 other full on partners and both were single encounters when I was 16 (25 now) and protected. So you can see how I am a little lost from my understanding of HPV I am low/no risk? I'm not in denial and just confused and scared it could be something worse (HSV?.) I apologize for the additional comment just trying to make my situation clear.
I also meant to wish you both a happy and healthy new year and thank you for your work in the forums; I know for me both your insights have been incredibly helpful! (Sorry for the comment was due to lack of space)
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.
