new found genital warts

[frust_az]

I previously had warts in January of 2007, froze 'em off at a clinic and then never saw them again.  From Feb 2007 to Feb 2009 I was in a monogamous relationship.  No reoccurrences of warts during that time period

In October 2009 I noticed a new bump a couple of months after I had unprotected sex.  Froze it off myself, what remained looked like scar tissue a general practioner thought I had gotten rid of them.  Noticed another bump that looked like different than warts I had in the past, I hadn't been inspecting myself for a while so I am not sure how long it was there, thought it was scar tissue from when I had warts removed in 2007 or a birth mark.  Went to the dermatologist in Oct 2010 and he thought both bumps that I thought were scar tissue were warts, he said that because they are both slightly raised that we should remove them.  Had warts froze off.  Both bumps are totally gone.

Additionally I had a very small wart removed in June 2010.

I read that its uncommon for warts to persist for more than 2 yrs.  Is it possible that I contracted a new strain or is it an old strain coming back?

I thought that I had built up an immunity to this strain of genital warts, but my dermatologist thought that it was the old strain.  Can you provide more guidance?  Currently I am single, not sure how to handle potential relationships in regards to this.  

The only brand new wart that I had in the last year was in June, the other 2 were around for a year.  My ex-girlfriend (2 year long relationship) never got warts, had a pap smear in January 2009 that turned up nothing.  My girlfriend (3 months last spring) never got warts either.

Either they haven't developed warts or they don't know that they have em.  I am using condoms but what if I want to have unprotected sex in a monogamous relationship?  How contagious am I?  I know that the recommended period is 6 months without warts = not contagious, typically.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

That s/he "thought" they were warts does not make it true.  You should speak with him or her about all this.  I have no other opinions or advice.

[frust_az]

Not sure if you interpreted my question correctly.  My dermatologist thinks that the bumps that he removed WERE likely to be warts.  Does this change anything?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

MedHelp policy permits a maximum of 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums (see Terms and Conditions).  This is your third since September.

Many apparent late-persisting or late-recurring warts are just scar tissue from previous warts.  Since that is your dermatologist's opinion, it is probably the case here, in which case you probably are no longer infectious.  That likelihood tends to be supported by the fact that your partners haven't developed overt warts, and most likely you can safely have unprotected sex without infecting future partners.  Six months is an approximation, and some people undoubtedly are infectious beyond that time, and there simply is no way to be certain about it.  But most people in your situation are probably not likely to infect future partners.

Because of the excess questions rule, there won't be any follow-up comments or discussion.  And you'll need to refrain from posting any new questions on this forum for at least another year.

Regards--  HHH, MD