Aa
Reason for concern?
Past week I have felt as though I have something in my throat. When I look with flashlight I see one or two raised bumps on the soft palate in front of tonsils. Smooth, round, same color as my throat and about the size of a top of a Q-tip. No pain. I seem to recall seeing this bump months before so I do not consider it new. After google-ing bump in throat I seem to only come up with HPV warts. So of course now I am worried sick I have HPV in the throat. I went to doctor today and he told me it's nothing to worry about, maybe a normal, small growth of some type and to just keep an eye. I was still uneasy, so I went to my dentist and he acted as though I was stupid and claimed he didn't even see bumps and has never even seen a wart in the mouth in his entire career. I live in a very small town so that wraps up my options. To make matters worse, I am newly pregnant (but do recall seeing bump before becoming pregnant) and know all of this stressing is not good right now. The only questionable oral sex incident was over four years ago.
Is this a legit concern or is this so rare it isn't something to worry about? Are there any other explanations of a bump that doesn't seem to go away? If it is HPV, what would the concerns be for having it in the throat? Would in cause an abnormal pap (they have been normal past four years) or does the HPV virus stay in throat?
Is this a legit concern or is this so rare it isn't something to worry about? Are there any other explanations of a bump that doesn't seem to go away? If it is HPV, what would the concerns be for having it in the throat? Would in cause an abnormal pap (they have been normal past four years) or does the HPV virus stay in throat?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Normal pap smears are good, but they are not meant to pick up all HPV infections. They only detect those infections that involve the cervix and cause certain kinds of pre-cancer abnormalities. Some doctors and now routinely test for HPV when paps are done, in addition to the pap test itself. But even when these tests are negative, HPV may be present.
You seem more worried about HPV than necessary. Nobody wants it, but everybody gets it; at least 80% and probably 90+% of all sexually active people get genital HPV at one time or another. In fact, most people probably have multiple infections. Most cases never cause symptoms, warts, or abnormal paps, and most of them just go away on their own.
Please speak with your ObG about getting immunized against HPV. Every woman under age 26 should be vaccinated with one of the two available vaccines. One vaccine protects against 4 types, the two that cause 70% of cervical cancer (HPV types 16 and 18) and the two that cause 90% of genital warts (HPV 6 and 11). The other protects only against type 16 and 18. It can't be given while you're pregnant, but afterward would be a good idea for you.
You seem more worried about HPV than necessary. Nobody wants it, but everybody gets it; at least 80% and probably 90+% of all sexually active people get genital HPV at one time or another. In fact, most people probably have multiple infections. Most cases never cause symptoms, warts, or abnormal paps, and most of them just go away on their own.
Please speak with your ObG about getting immunized against HPV. Every woman under age 26 should be vaccinated with one of the two available vaccines. One vaccine protects against 4 types, the two that cause 70% of cervical cancer (HPV types 16 and 18) and the two that cause 90% of genital warts (HPV 6 and 11). The other protects only against type 16 and 18. It can't be given while you're pregnant, but afterward would be a good idea for you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I'll try to help.
The most important information here is that neither your doctor nor your dentist can see anything wrong. Therefore, almost certainly there is nothing is there, at least nothing abnormal. Sometimes persons worried about particular health problems can notice things that really are are not abnormal at all, often just a variation in skin (or in this case lining of the mouth) that has been present all along but not noticed.
Warts are rare in the mouth and throat. If you had a genital wart virus infection, it would almost certainly show up first (and only) as warts in the genital area. Certainly it would be very rare for such a problem to show up only in the mouth. If you remain concerned, discuss all this with your obsetrician. If you have no readily visible warts that s/he can see in the genital area, there is no concern for either your health or your baby's.
I hope this helps. Best wishes for a successful pregancy and a healthy baby!
HHH, MD
The most important information here is that neither your doctor nor your dentist can see anything wrong. Therefore, almost certainly there is nothing is there, at least nothing abnormal. Sometimes persons worried about particular health problems can notice things that really are are not abnormal at all, often just a variation in skin (or in this case lining of the mouth) that has been present all along but not noticed.
Warts are rare in the mouth and throat. If you had a genital wart virus infection, it would almost certainly show up first (and only) as warts in the genital area. Certainly it would be very rare for such a problem to show up only in the mouth. If you remain concerned, discuss all this with your obsetrician. If you have no readily visible warts that s/he can see in the genital area, there is no concern for either your health or your baby's.
I hope this helps. Best wishes for a successful pregancy and a healthy baby!
HHH, MD
Also forgot to ask, I have had normal paps since the questionable sexual encounter four years ago...am I in the clear as far as genital HPV goes from that encounter or could I still end up with an abnormal pap?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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