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Genital Warts: Questions regarding timing and informing partner
Doctor,
I am a 30 years old male. On March 20 of this year, I first visited a dermatologist concerning a dark brown raised bump about 1/10'' in diameter in my groin area about an inch above the base of my penis. He cut it off and sent it for biopsy. Two weeks later, he informed me it was not a genital wart, but rather a seborrheic keratosis (i.e. not an std). On July 29, after having seen four similar brown bumps (one on the base of the shaft, one on my scrotum and two on my groin area near the others), I visited the same dermatologist. He cut these off for biopsy as well. Today, I just learned that these were genital warts. I have a few concerns I would appreciate advice on:
1. There is still one similar bump at the base of my penis that I missed and was not removed. While I have scheduled an appointment with the dermatologist to follow up and plan on getting this extra bump removed then, how can I be certain I've gotten them all? Or can I be certain at all?
2. I just started a relationship with a girl. We have had no genital contact of any kind yet. What do I do? I know I need to tell her, but what is the best thing to tell her?
3. Most importantly, when can we have sex with minimal to no risk for her? It looks like 6-9 months after the last visible wart seems to be a safe plan.
4. Does the fact that I've had two outbreaks over less than a year suggest that this is going to be a reoccurring theme in my life?
5. I'm willing to accept the fact that the first diagnosis was in error, but if these look the same as the bump diagnosed as a seborrheic keratosis, and the tests were done by the same doctor and lab, how could that mixup have happened?
6. Is the 6-9 months span I keep reading about on here the time from the removal or from the appearance of the warts?
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Sincerely,
T
I am a 30 years old male. On March 20 of this year, I first visited a dermatologist concerning a dark brown raised bump about 1/10'' in diameter in my groin area about an inch above the base of my penis. He cut it off and sent it for biopsy. Two weeks later, he informed me it was not a genital wart, but rather a seborrheic keratosis (i.e. not an std). On July 29, after having seen four similar brown bumps (one on the base of the shaft, one on my scrotum and two on my groin area near the others), I visited the same dermatologist. He cut these off for biopsy as well. Today, I just learned that these were genital warts. I have a few concerns I would appreciate advice on:
1. There is still one similar bump at the base of my penis that I missed and was not removed. While I have scheduled an appointment with the dermatologist to follow up and plan on getting this extra bump removed then, how can I be certain I've gotten them all? Or can I be certain at all?
2. I just started a relationship with a girl. We have had no genital contact of any kind yet. What do I do? I know I need to tell her, but what is the best thing to tell her?
3. Most importantly, when can we have sex with minimal to no risk for her? It looks like 6-9 months after the last visible wart seems to be a safe plan.
4. Does the fact that I've had two outbreaks over less than a year suggest that this is going to be a reoccurring theme in my life?
5. I'm willing to accept the fact that the first diagnosis was in error, but if these look the same as the bump diagnosed as a seborrheic keratosis, and the tests were done by the same doctor and lab, how could that mixup have happened?
6. Is the 6-9 months span I keep reading about on here the time from the removal or from the appearance of the warts?
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Sincerely,
T
Dr. Hook,
Thank you for this advice and, more importantly, thank you for this great service you provide. This assistance was very helpful.
Sincerely,
T
Thank you for this advice and, more importantly, thank you for this great service you provide. This assistance was very helpful.
Sincerely,
T
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one. I will try to provide some facts. For addition information on this most common of STDs, I would suggest search for other HPV- and wart-related Q&A on this site, as well seeking addition information on sites such as the American Social health Association web-site (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of ASHA)..
1. You can't be. HPV infections can occur at multiple sites and at different times. The best way to know that they are all gone is to examine yourself over time. If you do not see new lesions in 3-6 months (some experts say 3 months, to be extra sure others say 6)) then you are unlikely to have new ones appear.
2. Another tough question. On one hand, just about everyone, whether or not they know it, has HPV. Current estimates are the over 50% of women have HPV within a year of beginning to have sex and close to 90% will have it at some time in their lives. Having said that, this is not a reason to not be truthful. I would tell you had them and were treated. In addition, when you become sexually active, I would use condoms. They do reduce HPV transmission.
3. See above. Waiting for 6 wart free months is a good guideline. In addition, as noted above, condoms provide an extra degree of protections.
4. No, this sis unlikely. You just need to get through this (and I'm confident you will).
5. Why doubt that the first lesion was a seborrheic keratosis. It probably was. It is not at all unusual to have both.
6. From removal.
You are asking good questions -congratulations. Check out the web sites for additional information. Hope this helps. EWH
1. You can't be. HPV infections can occur at multiple sites and at different times. The best way to know that they are all gone is to examine yourself over time. If you do not see new lesions in 3-6 months (some experts say 3 months, to be extra sure others say 6)) then you are unlikely to have new ones appear.
2. Another tough question. On one hand, just about everyone, whether or not they know it, has HPV. Current estimates are the over 50% of women have HPV within a year of beginning to have sex and close to 90% will have it at some time in their lives. Having said that, this is not a reason to not be truthful. I would tell you had them and were treated. In addition, when you become sexually active, I would use condoms. They do reduce HPV transmission.
3. See above. Waiting for 6 wart free months is a good guideline. In addition, as noted above, condoms provide an extra degree of protections.
4. No, this sis unlikely. You just need to get through this (and I'm confident you will).
5. Why doubt that the first lesion was a seborrheic keratosis. It probably was. It is not at all unusual to have both.
6. From removal.
You are asking good questions -congratulations. Check out the web sites for additional information. Hope this helps. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
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STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
