Worried about bumps on penis

[questions82]

Five years ago my husaband developed several large bumps on the shaft of his penis.  They are dark in color and are in clusters.  He assured me that his doctor told him that they were normal.  However, I recently found out that he lied about going to the doctor and I have reason to believe that he has been cheating on me for years.  He still has these bumps and they have not changed in any way.  He says that they are not painful.  Does it sound like genital warts?  I don't have any symptoms myself.  If he has this, then what are the chances that I have it?  This would certainly be proof of his infidelity but he refuses to go to the doctor.  Would a doctor be able to tell me that I have been exposed to it even if I don't have any bumps myself?  Thank you for your help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Unchanging dark-colored bumps probably are not warts.  Depending in part on his age, I would wonder about moles or a condition called seborrheic keratosis.  These are not sexually acquired or transmitted.  And if they are warts, it is definitely not proof of infidelity.  To understand why, read the HPV information in the link at the top of this forum ("STD Quick Facts and Articles") as well numerous other threads about HPV infection and transmission.  No, there is no test to know whether you are carrying HPV.  But you may be; almost all sexually active persons get infected with HPV at one time or another.  (See the same article and threads.)

Bottom line:  Your husband is being irresponsible in not seeing a doctor for a diagnosis, if only to give you peace of mind.  But nothing can be said from this information about his sexual fidelity.

Good luck--  HHH, MD