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HPV Question for Dr. Hansfield *** Please Help
Hi Dr. Hansfield,
Please forgive me for some of the questions being repetitive in regards to what is covered on the forum but hoping for a personal answer. I'm a healthy and fit 30 year old male and about 6-7 weeks ago I noticed a single, slightly raised, circular flesh colored bump on the shaft of my penis approximately 1-1.5 mm in size. It appeared to be a little more skin like than a pearly penile papule (not shiny) and wouldn't pop either. I couldn't identify a head or indentation either. It did not change in size or appearance over that time span. I'm aware that it is impossible to know where this may have come from if it is something like HPV. I went to the dermatologist this week for a routine check up and asked him to look at this bump as well. He said he thought it resembled a wart and proceeded to freeze with cryo. He seemed to think nothing of it, never mentioned HPV and said I would be fine after 8-10 days. He was in and out quickly and I'm kicking myself for not asking more. The anxiety of it is driving me crazy and seems to be manifesting other STD symptoms that weren't present prior to cryo (burring around pubic area, penis and urethra and frequent urination. So....
1. What do you make of my description and his opinion? Is it likely warts/HPV or could it be something else? (Skin tag etc) Should it have been biopsied before cryo?
2. What can I expect with a bump of that size after cryo? Could it be gone forever with that one treatment?
3.) What can I do to clear this virus quicker if it is HPV? Supplement? I already take a daily routine of Multivitamin, Omega 3-6-9, B-12 super complex.
4. Going forward...I have just started dating someone that I have real interest in a couple weeks ago. I don't know her status (24) so may have the HPV vaccine. We haven't been sexual yet but I'm going to have to figure out what to do. I certainly wouldn't want to do her any harm. At the same time don't want to scare her away.
Any input appreciated
Please forgive me for some of the questions being repetitive in regards to what is covered on the forum but hoping for a personal answer. I'm a healthy and fit 30 year old male and about 6-7 weeks ago I noticed a single, slightly raised, circular flesh colored bump on the shaft of my penis approximately 1-1.5 mm in size. It appeared to be a little more skin like than a pearly penile papule (not shiny) and wouldn't pop either. I couldn't identify a head or indentation either. It did not change in size or appearance over that time span. I'm aware that it is impossible to know where this may have come from if it is something like HPV. I went to the dermatologist this week for a routine check up and asked him to look at this bump as well. He said he thought it resembled a wart and proceeded to freeze with cryo. He seemed to think nothing of it, never mentioned HPV and said I would be fine after 8-10 days. He was in and out quickly and I'm kicking myself for not asking more. The anxiety of it is driving me crazy and seems to be manifesting other STD symptoms that weren't present prior to cryo (burring around pubic area, penis and urethra and frequent urination. So....
1. What do you make of my description and his opinion? Is it likely warts/HPV or could it be something else? (Skin tag etc) Should it have been biopsied before cryo?
2. What can I expect with a bump of that size after cryo? Could it be gone forever with that one treatment?
3.) What can I do to clear this virus quicker if it is HPV? Supplement? I already take a daily routine of Multivitamin, Omega 3-6-9, B-12 super complex.
4. Going forward...I have just started dating someone that I have real interest in a couple weeks ago. I don't know her status (24) so may have the HPV vaccine. We haven't been sexual yet but I'm going to have to figure out what to do. I certainly wouldn't want to do her any harm. At the same time don't want to scare her away.
Any input appreciated
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You could ask the dermatologis to take another look, but if the cryo was effective, whatever remains may be sufficiently altered that it would be difficult to assess.
Probably HPV wasn't mentioned because your doctor didn't consider it necessary. By definition, a wart is an HPV lesion; if he called it a wart, he may have assume you know that means HPV.
"...how should I proceed?" Even without a definitive diagnosis, you should proceed as if nothing were wrong. Nearly all sexually active persons acquire HPV at one time or another; assuming a normal sex life, you probably have been infected and may be again. Same for your partner. Just because a diagnosis has been made doesn't increase or change the risk she'll have warts or an abnormal pap smear someday.
At your age, I don't recommend HPV immunization; and the vaccine has no effect on existing HPV infections. The new vaccine, which expands coverage over Gardasil from 4 to 9 HPV types. It should be approved and on the market well before 2017. But I doubt it will be recommended for men your age.
Probably HPV wasn't mentioned because your doctor didn't consider it necessary. By definition, a wart is an HPV lesion; if he called it a wart, he may have assume you know that means HPV.
"...how should I proceed?" Even without a definitive diagnosis, you should proceed as if nothing were wrong. Nearly all sexually active persons acquire HPV at one time or another; assuming a normal sex life, you probably have been infected and may be again. Same for your partner. Just because a diagnosis has been made doesn't increase or change the risk she'll have warts or an abnormal pap smear someday.
At your age, I don't recommend HPV immunization; and the vaccine has no effect on existing HPV infections. The new vaccine, which expands coverage over Gardasil from 4 to 9 HPV types. It should be approved and on the market well before 2017. But I doubt it will be recommended for men your age.
Hi Doc,
Thanks for your response. I guess I'm worried about a clear and accurate assessment, especially now that it has been frozen. That was on Friday. Maybe I should go back in for another look? I'm confused as to why HPV wasn't mentioned if he thought it was a wart. And, if I can't get a clear answer how should I proceed? I don't want to live with the stigma of HPV is it was indeed a skin tag. For some reason I don't think it was but there had been no changes or growth and no other bumps showed up.
On another note is there any reason of value to gat a vaccine? If my partner has been vaccinated is there nothing to worry about and do you know anything about the rumored vaccine due out in 2017 from the maker of Guardasil?
Thank you very much. Won't bother you with more questions.
Thanks for your response. I guess I'm worried about a clear and accurate assessment, especially now that it has been frozen. That was on Friday. Maybe I should go back in for another look? I'm confused as to why HPV wasn't mentioned if he thought it was a wart. And, if I can't get a clear answer how should I proceed? I don't want to live with the stigma of HPV is it was indeed a skin tag. For some reason I don't think it was but there had been no changes or growth and no other bumps showed up.
On another note is there any reason of value to gat a vaccine? If my partner has been vaccinated is there nothing to worry about and do you know anything about the rumored vaccine due out in 2017 from the maker of Guardasil?
Thank you very much. Won't bother you with more questions.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Not to worry. People drop the d and make it Hansfield all the time. I didn't even notice until you mentioned it.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Directly to your questions:
1) As you say, I cannot make a specific diagnosis. From your description, I doubt your penile lesion was a wart; it sounds more like a skin tag. If it persists after the cryotherapy, perhaps a biopsy would make sense; this is something to discuss with the dermatologist.
2) Cryotherapy kills all tissues, so no matter what the cause, the lesion probably will be gone. If it recurs, see no. 1 above.
3) There is nothing you can do. There are are no nutritional or vitamin supplements known to have any effect on clearance of warts or other HPV lesions, or skin tags.
4) I recommend you clarify with the dermatologist whether s/he thought the lesion was a wart. If it was, you should discuss it with your partner and make a joint decision about sexual plans. The thread linked below, and several other threads linked there, go into great detail about various aspects of genital HPV infection that you may wish to consider. The main point is that warts and most other HPV infections are best viewed as minor inconveniences, not important health risks. Many couples decide to not worry about special measures to prevent transmission.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-concerns/show/1819004
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
1) As you say, I cannot make a specific diagnosis. From your description, I doubt your penile lesion was a wart; it sounds more like a skin tag. If it persists after the cryotherapy, perhaps a biopsy would make sense; this is something to discuss with the dermatologist.
2) Cryotherapy kills all tissues, so no matter what the cause, the lesion probably will be gone. If it recurs, see no. 1 above.
3) There is nothing you can do. There are are no nutritional or vitamin supplements known to have any effect on clearance of warts or other HPV lesions, or skin tags.
4) I recommend you clarify with the dermatologist whether s/he thought the lesion was a wart. If it was, you should discuss it with your partner and make a joint decision about sexual plans. The thread linked below, and several other threads linked there, go into great detail about various aspects of genital HPV infection that you may wish to consider. The main point is that warts and most other HPV infections are best viewed as minor inconveniences, not important health risks. Many couples decide to not worry about special measures to prevent transmission.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-concerns/show/1819004
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
^Sorry for the name typo!
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