When can I stop worrying?

[twe52]

Just writing in again... I had unprotected sex 2 months ago.  Have not had sex since.  He was tested for everything as was I that is possible.  We have both come up negative.  In 2003 his girlfriend of the time developed a "rash or bumps" (in his words), and had them "taken care of" while they were long distance.  Afterwards, they lived together for 3 years and never was there another problem.  

I wonder if this was a wart outbreak?  He has never had any symptoms, and he says that his girlfriends since then have never had any symptoms of any kind.  Basically, he isn't worried.

All of my testing and Pap have come back fine.  My OB/GYN found several small pink pimples on my butt cheeks..but she said they are just that - pimples.  She was confident in this and said there was no need to biopsy.  

I just hate that HPV can't be clearly tested... and it seems that you just have to wait and see if you get warts.  How long until I can stop worrying?  I understand that an outbreak can occur weeks, months, or years after exposure, but in general at what point can I breathe a little easier?  When do warts generally show up?  Would I feel anything before/as they come?

Thanks for your perspective on this.

[alexdelong]

For the most part, warts look like warts. Zits usually last for a week or two, warts would be around later. Suspect bumps would require a doctor's expertise for a diagnosis.

[twe52]

Thanks for your comments.  Still wondering though, are there any symptoms before/as they come?  What do they look like at first detection? How can I tell if something is a zit or the beginning of a wart?  I feel like even reputable sources on the internet slightly contradict each other.

[alexdelong]

I would stop worrying now. If you have sex, HPV is unavoidable.

The strains that cause warts are not all that common though. In all probability, your previous partner did not have genital warts, and if he was exposed in 2003, he would have likely cleared the virus long ago.

If you were exposed, warts would usually appear within 2-3 months, but may take as long as 8. Sometimes warts can appear years or decades after exposure, but this is rare.

If you do have warts, deal with them at that time. They are not serious, temporary, and easily treated.

You probably won't get warts, and if you do it is a minor problem, so it is nothing to worry about!