anal lump wart skin tag

[ozhock]

hi docsI noticed a small fleshy lump above my anus red in colour painless. i imed went  to the dr who said it was a virus like a wart or skin tag. It is a single lump in the perianal area. he said he would not say it was a genital wart and does not think i would pass to wife during sex.

My wife was a virgin when we got married as was i. I have unfort seen escorts a couple of times back 8 years ago.

i have asked to see a specialist, he was pretty sure it was a wart.

Is this something that i could have caught during our marriage?

do you think i should get it tested?

how else could it have got there?

thanks

[ozhock]

Hi Dr Hook,

Another follow up.

I seeked a third evaluation from a GP near my work who said he thought it was a skin tag but did ask if i have "received anal sex", answer was no.

He did say hi could definately tell by putting some liquid nitrogen on it and that a dermatologist was not needed. He put on the liquid nitrogen and said it only needs one treatment and should fall off. He also said after the liquid nitrogen that it was not a wart but a skin tag.

So to summarise
- 1st doc said it was a virus but like how people get skin tags and used the neck area as an example. He said it was not genital warts and did not think i would pass to wife. This was a confusing diagnosis for me.

- 2nd doc said nothing but a skin tag (like people get on neck) not anything to do with std and i would not pass to wife. Advised to leave it alone as cutting it in that dirty area would leave a open wound. Also pointed out that i had small hemoroids so advsed to eat more fibre.

-  3rd doc as above, also said skin tags can be hereditary as my dad had them on neck as well as 2 hemeroid ops (Dr asked).

So in conclusion (sorry Dr Hook i know this is long winded) can i safely assume this was not a wart? Cant see it any more only as a small whitish spot.

Only vaginal sexual experience 11 years a go and about 6 years a go no anal area involved.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Thanks for the followup.  I had missed that your first doctor told you that skin tags were a type of wart.  That is wrong.  Skin tags are normal outgrowths of skin, warts are viral infections.  The main reason for seeing a dermatologist is if you want the skin tag removed.  This is something he/she could easily do.  Otherwise I see no reason to see the dermatologist.  EWH

[ozhock]

Hi Dr,
Follow up; i seeked a second opinion from a different medical centre GP and after taking a look at it he said it was not a wart/std but a skin rag like people can get on their necks. He said to just leave it and that there is no risk to my wife.

The first doctor said skin tags were a type of wart so the diagnosis was a bit confusing. I still have his referral to the dermatologist but since the second dr said there was no issue i am not sure whether i should bother paying extra.

The lesion is king of longish and flexible smooth looking and singular above the anus in the fold.

Do you think it is still worthwhile seeing the derm after the 2nd diagnosis?

Many thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

As I said earlier, before we address where a wart might have come from, make sure it is a wart.  EWH

[ozhock]

Thank you for the reply.

I assume this would be something typically picked up during sexual activity? Is there any other way a wart would get there?

The dr said it was not the type that causes genital warts but specifically said it was a virus.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. I'll try to help but the most important thing you can do is to be sure to let the dermatologist know that it is important to know whether this is a wart or not, if it is important to you.  I am not sure it should be important.  There are many other processes that can have similar appearances to the tag-like structure you describe.  These include skin tags, hemorrhoids, and other benign skin tags.  Even if it were a wart, there is really no great reason for concern.  The HPV that causes ano-genital warts is not a type which is typically responsible for cancer and thus these warts are more of a nuisance than anything else from a health perspective.  Similarly, even if it is a wart, given the location, this is not a major health hazard for your wife.

I hope these comments are helpful.  I suggest you discuss what it might be in more detail with your dermatologist when you she him/her.  I am also confident that the dermatologist will have suggestions for how to best get rid of this.  EWH

[ozhock]

Sorry just to add i have not seen the derm yet only have a referral. The GP said do not think of this as a genital wart but i assume all warts in this area are called genital warts.