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This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection
Please note, this forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues.
Please note, this forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues.
Living with Genital Warts
by Arf, May 31, 2007 12:00AM
I apologise for raising a topic which I'm sure has many times been discussed in the past. I've searched the forums quite extensively and read up pretty much everything I can, but I'm still interested in some more views.
As of September last year, I believe I have genital warts. I basically have 1 wart which is recurring. I've been to the GUM clinic a number of times. The first time they gave me the blue Warticon solution which I dabbed on 3 nights a week. After a number of weeks, the wart disappeared. I was a happy man.
A month or two later it was back with a vengenance. It was not particularly big, but it was visible to me, especially when my penis was of different sizes. I went to GUM, they couldn't see it and gave me the all clear - telling me I was free to have unprotective sex if I wanted (but safe sex was still advised). On return home, I could still find the wart. I used Warticon on it again. It vanished. Then it came back.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I went back to GUM and told them the story. I also told them I thought that blue Warticon ink was pretty terrible to use. No problem they say - we'll freeze it off. They do, I leave and am content finally the damn thing has gone. The area that was froze swelled, went pink then gradually skin began to reform over it. However, maybe a month and a bit from that day - that area of my penis is still very pink and noticeable. I have since identified what a consider to be another wart - however it's hardly noticeable and I'm pondering whether to get it looked at or just ignore it. The chances are they wouldn't be able to see it anyway or treatment would irritate it and make it worse than it is.
There's my backstory which I guess people might find useful to know of, my questions are as follows:
Is my penis likely to be permanently scarred from the freezing treatment? If not, how long should it be before I can no longer notice where the affected area?
Does anyone feel it is worth Warticoning / going to get the smaller one frozen also?
Finally - I don't know how to go about my sex life anymore. I think KNOWING you have the virus is actually worse than any warts. I've been single for a while now - most of the women I meet are on night's out. Pulling the old "oh by the way I have genital warts" card out as things get serious scares the hell out of me. I don't feel I can do it. How do you others get by? I find it bizarre that my doctors go by the consensus that if the warts are gone you're safe whereas I've read people on here have been told their partners have had warts up to 4 years on from the break out. I really could do with some advice on how to not be afraid of sex anymore...
As of September last year, I believe I have genital warts. I basically have 1 wart which is recurring. I've been to the GUM clinic a number of times. The first time they gave me the blue Warticon solution which I dabbed on 3 nights a week. After a number of weeks, the wart disappeared. I was a happy man.
A month or two later it was back with a vengenance. It was not particularly big, but it was visible to me, especially when my penis was of different sizes. I went to GUM, they couldn't see it and gave me the all clear - telling me I was free to have unprotective sex if I wanted (but safe sex was still advised). On return home, I could still find the wart. I used Warticon on it again. It vanished. Then it came back.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I went back to GUM and told them the story. I also told them I thought that blue Warticon ink was pretty terrible to use. No problem they say - we'll freeze it off. They do, I leave and am content finally the damn thing has gone. The area that was froze swelled, went pink then gradually skin began to reform over it. However, maybe a month and a bit from that day - that area of my penis is still very pink and noticeable. I have since identified what a consider to be another wart - however it's hardly noticeable and I'm pondering whether to get it looked at or just ignore it. The chances are they wouldn't be able to see it anyway or treatment would irritate it and make it worse than it is.
There's my backstory which I guess people might find useful to know of, my questions are as follows:
Is my penis likely to be permanently scarred from the freezing treatment? If not, how long should it be before I can no longer notice where the affected area?
Does anyone feel it is worth Warticoning / going to get the smaller one frozen also?
Finally - I don't know how to go about my sex life anymore. I think KNOWING you have the virus is actually worse than any warts. I've been single for a while now - most of the women I meet are on night's out. Pulling the old "oh by the way I have genital warts" card out as things get serious scares the hell out of me. I don't feel I can do it. How do you others get by? I find it bizarre that my doctors go by the consensus that if the warts are gone you're safe whereas I've read people on here have been told their partners have had warts up to 4 years on from the break out. I really could do with some advice on how to not be afraid of sex anymore...
I am a 21 year old female who has just been diagnosed with genital warts. I have had 8 sexual partners and ONLY ever had sex using condoms and none have ever broken, but I seem to have contracted the disease. I started with about 6 tiny little warts, but only one week later, today, they have multiplied, spread and the existing ones grown. My GP diagnosed me last week and I have an appointment tomorrow with a sexual health clinic physician to seek treatment. Its a cruel disease, I dont know who gave it to me and probably never will.
I am also in the same position as you in regard to my sex life. I'm so unsure what this means for me!
-Do you meet someone you really connect with then pull out the "oh by the way I have genital warts" card and watch them run a million miles?
-Or do you get to know the person but refrain from sex for ages, untill they finally crack and want to know why you won't sleep with them, so you tell them, then they either also run a million miles, or get angry for leading them on without telling them?
-Or do you sleep with them and take the risk of passing it on, creating another new case, putting them through what you've been through and living with the responsibility of it on your conscience?
I want to be a mum one day, with the right man, but how is that ever going to be possible?
I've always been scared of contracting any STD's hense the reason I've only ever used condoms, but I too am now scared of sex. I'm 21 with my whole life ahead of me. This shouldnt be happening!
Any advice from anyone would be most appreciated!
Unfortunately, I cannot claim to have never had unprotected sex. I have. I perhaps shouldn't have but it is done and there is nothing I can do about it. However - even if I had used protection at times where I didn't, it is still probable that I would have caught the disease.
I am also 21 years old. This is meant to be our sexual prime. However, increasingly I am steering clear of opportunities to have sex with women because of the condition. I'm sure you're the same. As you said, it's very cruel. The annoying thing is the conflict of advice I've been given about it. I mean as I stated in my previous post I've been to the GUM clinic a number of times and they just seem to go by the ethos that if you can't see anything then you're fine to have sex. Get on to the internet and it's a completely different story.
I personally don't feel like I can tell someone I've just met / am dating about all this. I believe it will scare people off. However I guess when people don't tell others, that's when it gets passed on. I suppose the interesting thing about it all is the supposed percentage of people who have HPV. I mean - we're not 2 out of 100. If statistics to be believed it could be as much as 2 out of 5 or certainly 2 out of 10. Only a few of us actually develop the physical symptoms though. I don't know if this means that whoever we sleep with are likely to receive the same symptoms?
If you need someone to talk to online then feel free to say so and I'll try and figure out a way to get you my MSN addy.
Dating is an issue as well. I have been wanting to ask this girl out for months now, I just don't have the guts to do it. When do you tell them about the possible HPV infection, before or after few dates. I have know this person for a year now, but what do you do.
I honestly believe this will make it harder to date, you will get rejected more then before. Eventually, some one won't run.
Please post comments!
It's not an easy thing to deal with, but it's life. Most of my friends have all dealt with an STD at some point in their lives, but some of us are lucky enough to catch the one that won't go away! Life happens - and sometimes it hands you lemons. Control it and don't let it control you! You can still live a happy life...have children...love and be loved! And remember...it could always be worse.
Keep on keepin' on!