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STDs  (Expert Forum)
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Are these Warts?
Answered by
University of Washington Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. 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.

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Are these Warts?

by nokiaphone, May 07, 2007 12:00AM
I am a 24 year old male. About three months ago i had unprotected sex with a new partner. Since then i have started seeing an ex girlfriend again and we also have had unprotected sex.

A few days ago i noticed two hypopigmented papules to the right of my frenulum in the coronal sulcus. Becoming very anxious, i started inspecting the rest of my penis. I may have noticed a few other hypopigmented macules but thought that it was just my imagination. Since then, i feel as if the hypopigmented lesions have become elevated. I also think that there are new papules where there were no papules before. For example, i see papules on the left of the frenulum now. I see hypopigmented circular areas along the right side of the coronal sulcus. Although disticnt circular lesions, the lesions tend to be clumped together. In one area it almost looks like they are in a straight line. The lesions do not itch and are not scaly.

Could this be HPV? The initial 2 lesions looked alot like smaller versions of pictures i have seen of HPV. Could the hypopigmented areas be early papules that i am seeing because i am over inspecting. Can HPV pop up and spread so quickly? Could this be in fact a tinea infection? The initial two papules really look like HPV and they are the first thing i noticed, none of the other papules look like them.

The girl i am currently with had a bikini wax the day before i noticed the first lesions and, unhygienically, we had sex before she showered. If i did get tinea at that time, would less than 24h be enough for a raised papule to be seen?

I am seeing a urologist on thursday. I have to see him for something else and am glad that i will be able to show it to someone. But is a urologist the right person to go to? Will he be able to tell the difference?

I know i will find out on thursday what these are, but in the meantime i have grown very anxious. I am losing alot of sleep over this. I cant afford to lose sleep right now. I have a big exam coming up in early june. You may be able to guess what exam that is.

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 07, 2007 12:00AM
You seem to be medically knowledgeable, but without clinical context.  (Are you a medical student, by chance?)  Clearly you have enough knowledge to know that verbal description to an online expert is dumb, compared to evaluation by a health care provider.  Why rely on speculation (which is all I can provide)??  See one, maybe a dermatologist.

To your questions:  No, I see no reason to suspect HPV.  What in heaven's name do you mean by 'unhygienically, we had sex before she showered'.  What in the world does that have to do with HPV or other STD risk.  (Do you think most people shower before sex??  No way.)  No, HPV cannot 'pop up and spread so quickly'.  I don't know much about the time of onset of symptoms of tinea.

Sorry, I'm not in charge of whether or not you lose sleep over unreasoned anxieties about HPV or other STDs.

'You may be able to guess what exam that is.'  I don't know. ECFMG?  NBME?  Dermatology finals?

Don't interpret my glib comments as insensitive.  I have had my share of medical student paranoia.  Forty years ago I was certain I had malignant melanoma, Crohn's disease, leukemia, and syphilis.  Just mellow out, and show your multicolor penis to a dermatologist.  There really is not likely to be any reason for alarm or fear.

Good luck on your exam.  HHH, MD
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