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STDs (Expert Forum)
Small Genital Wart? A few questions
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
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.
Small Genital Wart? A few questions
by Dan_C, Feb 19, 2007 12:00AM
I went to the doctor today to get a possible genital wart looked at. The doctor looked at my wart for approximately 10 seconds before telling me it could possibly be a genital wart or Molluscum contagiosum. He was not sure, nor did he seem too interested in investigating the matter any further. I wasn’t too keen on his answer, but that was all the information that I could get. The doctor also said that the warts on my hand may be the same type that is on my penis (which I thought was impossible). He prescribed to me Trentinoin .1%, which I have purchased but have not yet tried.
1) Does this appear to be a genital wart? The following picture is enlarged and the actual wart is aprox 1mm. It is located on the shaft of my penis.
http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sta60011oh8.jpg
**(Note I am not asking for a diagnosis I understand I will have to see another doctor in person with access to a testing facility).
2) Can common warts develop on the genital region without being sexually transmitted/HPV
3) Does your body ever actually rid itself of hpv or does the immune system simply repress the virus/symptoms?
4) Assuming it is a genital wart and I am successful in treating my wart, if I have sex with my partner (who is possibly infected) can I get the hpv virus again or will I be immune to that specific strand?
5) What are the approximate success rates of using Trentinioin .1% and do you think the doctor was logical in his prescription?
Thank you for all you’re time!
1) Does this appear to be a genital wart? The following picture is enlarged and the actual wart is aprox 1mm. It is located on the shaft of my penis.
http://img96.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sta60011oh8.jpg
**(Note I am not asking for a diagnosis I understand I will have to see another doctor in person with access to a testing facility).
2) Can common warts develop on the genital region without being sexually transmitted/HPV
3) Does your body ever actually rid itself of hpv or does the immune system simply repress the virus/symptoms?
4) Assuming it is a genital wart and I am successful in treating my wart, if I have sex with my partner (who is possibly infected) can I get the hpv virus again or will I be immune to that specific strand?
5) What are the approximate success rates of using Trentinioin .1% and do you think the doctor was logical in his prescription?
Thank you for all you’re time!
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 19, 2007 12:00AM
, Feb 19, 2007 12:00AM
With apology, I do not look at posted clinical photos. Others don't feel this way (e.g., Dr. Rockoff in the dermatology forum)--but to my thinking, it comes too close to practicing medicine from a distance. As to the other questions:
2) It might occur, but rarely; common (nongenital) warts rarely affect the genitals.
3) This has been addressed many times. Some experts believe that all HPV infections are permanent, but the answer isn't known for sure. However, almost all HPV infections clear up by the best testing available, cannot be transmitted to future partners, and never recur. So for practical purposes, most people can consider themselves cured after their warts (or abnormal pap smear) clear up.
4) If you have a wart, you can safely assume your partner is infected. S/He may or may not ever have recognized warts. Once s/he has been infected and it clears up, s/he will be immune to getting reinfected with the same HPV type.
5) Tretinoin is not a standard treatment for genital warts and is not mentioned as an option in CDC's STD treatment guidelines. The usual therapies are various caustic chemicals, freezing with liquid nitrogen, or cautery (in the provider's office) or prescription of podofilox (trade name Condylox) or imiquimod (Aldara).
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
2) It might occur, but rarely; common (nongenital) warts rarely affect the genitals.
3) This has been addressed many times. Some experts believe that all HPV infections are permanent, but the answer isn't known for sure. However, almost all HPV infections clear up by the best testing available, cannot be transmitted to future partners, and never recur. So for practical purposes, most people can consider themselves cured after their warts (or abnormal pap smear) clear up.
4) If you have a wart, you can safely assume your partner is infected. S/He may or may not ever have recognized warts. Once s/he has been infected and it clears up, s/he will be immune to getting reinfected with the same HPV type.
5) Tretinoin is not a standard treatment for genital warts and is not mentioned as an option in CDC's STD treatment guidelines. The usual therapies are various caustic chemicals, freezing with liquid nitrogen, or cautery (in the provider's office) or prescription of podofilox (trade name Condylox) or imiquimod (Aldara).
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Member Comments (2)
by Englishman, Feb 20, 2007 12:00AM
To: Dan_C
Looks like it could be a mole or a wart. Get a second opinion from another doctor. I have had mollscum and it looks nothing like that at any stage of the lesion.
