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HPV and sSymptoms
Hi Doctor.
I believe I may have cone into contact with genital warts about 5 to 6 months ago.
The man I came into contact with had flat dark skin on his penis in two small patches. He said they had been there for several years when I questioned what they were and told him he may have warts. He said other women he had sex with never complained of catching anything.
He never told me what he was diagnosed with and stopped talking to me.
Since then, I have had maybe 4 to 5 pelvic exams. The last doctor I went to told me that my vagina was fine, my pap was negative, and that I should forget about the whole thing, saying that my chance of developing warts now are slim. I am terrified of developing them, and possibly passing them onto my new boyfriend. Can you give me some advice? How long does it typically take for warts to appear?
I believe I may have cone into contact with genital warts about 5 to 6 months ago.
The man I came into contact with had flat dark skin on his penis in two small patches. He said they had been there for several years when I questioned what they were and told him he may have warts. He said other women he had sex with never complained of catching anything.
He never told me what he was diagnosed with and stopped talking to me.
Since then, I have had maybe 4 to 5 pelvic exams. The last doctor I went to told me that my vagina was fine, my pap was negative, and that I should forget about the whole thing, saying that my chance of developing warts now are slim. I am terrified of developing them, and possibly passing them onto my new boyfriend. Can you give me some advice? How long does it typically take for warts to appear?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for the additional information. Again, following only two exposures infection is by no means a sure thing.
As I said before, consider the HPV vaccine if you have not alreadyhad it. Take care. EWH
As I said before, consider the HPV vaccine if you have not alreadyhad it. Take care. EWH
And the pigmented parts were harder than the rest of his skin... but they were flat. I also have to mention i have an anxiety problem. I will stop worrying. You are an angel. Thank you.
They were very helpful. Also, I was exposed twice without a condom
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. I'll be pleased to make some comments. The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one and continuously evolving. I will try to provide some facts. 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 Sexual Health Association web-site (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on or have been on the Board of ASHA
I think you are over reacting a bit. You do not mention how many exposures you had to this partner or whether or not you used condom during the contact however, if he had HPV (there are many other processes that can lead to changes in the pigmentation of the genital skin, most exposures do not lead to infection. In addition, 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.
Your doctor has provided sound advice. This is not something that it is productive to worry about going forward. As he said, on average, if you were going to develop warts, you probably would have by now- the fact that your PAP smear is normal and there are no visible abnormalities are good evidence that you were not infected. In addition, if you have not already done so, you may wish to get the HPV vaccine- it is highly protective against HIV infection and already has lead to significant reductions in rates of HPV infections and their complications for women who have been vaccinated.
Finally, I urge you to stop examining yourself looking for warts. The genital tract has many irregularities and bumps which are normal. Repeated self-examination will not be helpful.
I hope my comments are helpful to you. EWH
I think you are over reacting a bit. You do not mention how many exposures you had to this partner or whether or not you used condom during the contact however, if he had HPV (there are many other processes that can lead to changes in the pigmentation of the genital skin, most exposures do not lead to infection. In addition, 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.
Your doctor has provided sound advice. This is not something that it is productive to worry about going forward. As he said, on average, if you were going to develop warts, you probably would have by now- the fact that your PAP smear is normal and there are no visible abnormalities are good evidence that you were not infected. In addition, if you have not already done so, you may wish to get the HPV vaccine- it is highly protective against HIV infection and already has lead to significant reductions in rates of HPV infections and their complications for women who have been vaccinated.
Finally, I urge you to stop examining yourself looking for warts. The genital tract has many irregularities and bumps which are normal. Repeated self-examination will not be helpful.
I hope my comments are helpful to you. EWH
Also, the last time I was examined was 3 days ago. I had become paranoid about the inside of my vagina, in which the doctor assured me was normal and any "bumps" I had were just my normal anatomy.
I thought
I felt a small soft bump, but he said was nothing when examined closer.
I thought
I felt a small soft bump, but he said was nothing when examined closer.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
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.
