HPV

[mr_bungle]

I noticed a small bump on my penis area.  I saw a doctor and she told me it was a benign wart probably caused by HPV.  I am starting to freak out becuase I always have been extremely careful.  I use a condom everytime I have intercourse.  Not to mention I have not engaged in any sexual activity in nearly a year.  I was wondering if these warts are going to be there forever? I read online that they go away on their own.  Is this true?  What should I do at this point?  I have seen two doctors and both told me not to worry about them.  Does this seem right to you?

[mr_bungle]

So let me see if I have this straight about HPV...

I  got this from close sexual contact (i.e. not hand to genital transmission), its so common that most people get it sooner or later.  My body should rid the virus on its own.  Its nothing to loose any sleep over.

Does this sound about right?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Having been told by two doctors that you have a wart, odds are that this is the case.  HPV infections, as you no doubt know from your internet research, are extraordinarily common and, fortunately, for most people typically are of little consequence, particularly for men.  At the same time, treatment is easy and if you have a wart, you should be able to easily get it removed with topical therapy at your local STD clinic or by a dermatologist.  Alternatively, indeed, it is likely to go away without specific therapy but this can take as long as a year or more.  

I don't mean to sound casual about your infection.  It is an STD, the thing is, it is common and we know that 85-90% of Americans will have HPV at some time in their lives.  For additional 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)..Hope this helps.  EWH