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Worried about HPV
Hi Doctor,
I have a history of one abnormal pap smear, and I had a colposcopy and have had normal paps since then. I'm assuming that I had hpv and it cleared up. This was about 3 years ago. Recently, in the past couple of years or so, I have noticed a small fleshy lump right above my vaginal opening. It has pointy fingerlike projections coming out of it, and some more projections surrounding it. I don't know how long I've had this; I'm assuming it has been there for several years. The projections are soft and not really painful for the most part. My ob/gyn cut off one of the projections surrounding the main fleshy lump and it came back as just normal vaginal skin. My biggest fear is that the big lump is actually a genital wart, since she didn't excise that part. I asked her if she thought I should come back in and have the rest biopsied and she said no. I want a second opinion... do you think this sounds like genital warts? And if not, what does it sound like it might be? If it is genital warts, how long do they typically last? I should also mention that I've had unprotected sex with 2 guys and neither one has developed anything.
I appreciate any input you can give me. Thank you!!!
I have a history of one abnormal pap smear, and I had a colposcopy and have had normal paps since then. I'm assuming that I had hpv and it cleared up. This was about 3 years ago. Recently, in the past couple of years or so, I have noticed a small fleshy lump right above my vaginal opening. It has pointy fingerlike projections coming out of it, and some more projections surrounding it. I don't know how long I've had this; I'm assuming it has been there for several years. The projections are soft and not really painful for the most part. My ob/gyn cut off one of the projections surrounding the main fleshy lump and it came back as just normal vaginal skin. My biggest fear is that the big lump is actually a genital wart, since she didn't excise that part. I asked her if she thought I should come back in and have the rest biopsied and she said no. I want a second opinion... do you think this sounds like genital warts? And if not, what does it sound like it might be? If it is genital warts, how long do they typically last? I should also mention that I've had unprotected sex with 2 guys and neither one has developed anything.
I appreciate any input you can give me. Thank you!!!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
OK, last answers. thesea re really questions you should be discussing with your doctor:
1. In your opinion, should I get the rest biopsied or should I just take my doctor's advice and assume that they are all normal?
I agree with your doctor. I would not do more biopsies.
2. I've had this for several years.. if they were warts, they would have disappeared by now, right?
Most probably.
3. This doesn't look like any of the pictures of warts I've seen online.. are they always flat and cauliflower looking or can they be soft and pointy like what I'm experiencing?
The appearances can be variable but the bulk of what you say suggests these are no warts.
Take care. EWH
1. In your opinion, should I get the rest biopsied or should I just take my doctor's advice and assume that they are all normal?
I agree with your doctor. I would not do more biopsies.
2. I've had this for several years.. if they were warts, they would have disappeared by now, right?
Most probably.
3. This doesn't look like any of the pictures of warts I've seen online.. are they always flat and cauliflower looking or can they be soft and pointy like what I'm experiencing?
The appearances can be variable but the bulk of what you say suggests these are no warts.
Take care. EWH
Thank you for your quick replies! This will be my last set of questions.
1. In your opinion, should I get the rest biopsied or should I just take my doctor's advice and assume that they are all normal?
2. I've had this for several years.. if they were warts, they would have disappeared by now, right?
3. This doesn't look like any of the pictures of warts I've seen online.. are they always flat and cauliflower looking or can they be soft and pointy like what I'm experiencing?
Thanks so much!
1. In your opinion, should I get the rest biopsied or should I just take my doctor's advice and assume that they are all normal?
2. I've had this for several years.. if they were warts, they would have disappeared by now, right?
3. This doesn't look like any of the pictures of warts I've seen online.. are they always flat and cauliflower looking or can they be soft and pointy like what I'm experiencing?
Thanks so much!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad I could help.
1. Am I too old to get the HPV vaccine. I'm 30.
While the vaccine is recommended for women up to age 26, it is equally effective in older women. The recommendation is based on the fact that, on average, ferwer women acquire HPV as they get older. As a result of the recommendation, I suspect you might have to pay for the vaccine yourself (over $300.00 for the vaccine, then there is the cost of administration) but it would provide protection for you against they types of HPV that you had not acquired as yet.
2. If I do have HPV, how long does the virus typically last? I've heard it described as "the common cold of the genitals".
Most (over 85%) of Americans acquire HPV, typically more than one type, over the course of their lives. This is from another response to an earlier client
"For better or worse, at present HPV is a "fact of life" and most people have it or will have it at some point in the future. Despite this fact, only a tiny minority of persons with HPV get the consequences of infection (primarily women and primarily cancer and pre-cancerous lesions). HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. The figure for men is less well studied but similar. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-24 months. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated. For men there is far less risk of any sort."
3. If they are warts, will they go away on their own?
Yes, see above.
4. If they really are warts, wouldn't my partners have caught them?
Perhaps but again, see above.
Hope this helps. EWH
1. Am I too old to get the HPV vaccine. I'm 30.
While the vaccine is recommended for women up to age 26, it is equally effective in older women. The recommendation is based on the fact that, on average, ferwer women acquire HPV as they get older. As a result of the recommendation, I suspect you might have to pay for the vaccine yourself (over $300.00 for the vaccine, then there is the cost of administration) but it would provide protection for you against they types of HPV that you had not acquired as yet.
2. If I do have HPV, how long does the virus typically last? I've heard it described as "the common cold of the genitals".
Most (over 85%) of Americans acquire HPV, typically more than one type, over the course of their lives. This is from another response to an earlier client
"For better or worse, at present HPV is a "fact of life" and most people have it or will have it at some point in the future. Despite this fact, only a tiny minority of persons with HPV get the consequences of infection (primarily women and primarily cancer and pre-cancerous lesions). HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. The figure for men is less well studied but similar. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-24 months. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated. For men there is far less risk of any sort."
3. If they are warts, will they go away on their own?
Yes, see above.
4. If they really are warts, wouldn't my partners have caught them?
Perhaps but again, see above.
Hope this helps. EWH
Thanks for your comments! I have a few more questions.
1. Am I too old to get the HPV vaccine. I'm 30.
2. If I do have HPV, how long does the virus typically last? I've heard it described as "the common cold of the genitals".
3. If they are warts, will they go away on their own?
4. If they really are warts, wouldn't my partners have caught them?
The colposcopy was enough to treat the abnormalities, according to my doctor. She removed a small section of my cervix and that was it. I think it was low-grade mild dysplasia.
Thank you!
1. Am I too old to get the HPV vaccine. I'm 30.
2. If I do have HPV, how long does the virus typically last? I've heard it described as "the common cold of the genitals".
3. If they are warts, will they go away on their own?
4. If they really are warts, wouldn't my partners have caught them?
The colposcopy was enough to treat the abnormalities, according to my doctor. She removed a small section of my cervix and that was it. I think it was low-grade mild dysplasia.
Thank you!
Thanks for your comments! I have a few more questions.
1. Am I too old to get the HPV vaccine. I'm 30.
2.
The colposcopy was enough to treat the abnormalities, according to my doctor. She removed a small section of my cervix and that was it. I think it was mild dysplasia.
1. Am I too old to get the HPV vaccine. I'm 30.
2.
The colposcopy was enough to treat the abnormalities, according to my doctor. She removed a small section of my cervix and that was it. I think it was mild dysplasia.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. I'll try to help but cannot really give a true second opinion unless I had a chance to evaluate you. I suspect your doctor is correct however. It is hard to argue with a biopsy which is an excellent way to determine if the "bump" you have notice was HPV. As you know from your own self inspection, the vagina is quite fleshy and irregular and it is not unusual to have fleshy "skin tags" in the area.
Several other comments. You state that you ha culposcopy for an abnormal PAP. This is goo practice but were you treated as well? The reason I ask is that not all abnormal PAPs are due to HPV and culposcopy is sometimes use to determine if the abnormality detected by the PAP is due to HPV an needs treatment or not. Either way, it sounds as though whatever caused your abnormal PAP has resolved and is behind you.
Finally, you are concerned about HPV. Have you had the HPV vaccine? It is highly active and effective for preventing warts and the HPV infections which can lead to abnormal PAPs caused by the viruses in the vaccine.
I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
Several other comments. You state that you ha culposcopy for an abnormal PAP. This is goo practice but were you treated as well? The reason I ask is that not all abnormal PAPs are due to HPV and culposcopy is sometimes use to determine if the abnormality detected by the PAP is due to HPV an needs treatment or not. Either way, it sounds as though whatever caused your abnormal PAP has resolved and is behind you.
Finally, you are concerned about HPV. Have you had the HPV vaccine? It is highly active and effective for preventing warts and the HPV infections which can lead to abnormal PAPs caused by the viruses in the vaccine.
I hope my comments are helpful. EWH
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