Aa
hpv surgery
Its been 17 weeks since my laser ablation surgery for hpv warts. Surgery was painful, they lasered several areas in my inner labia, outer, and Annnd vaginal opening. So far there hasn't been recurrence. Once i rushed to the doc but she said i wad imagining things because my anxiety is so high. At what point can i stop checking myself for recurrences? At what point can i have unprotected sex without fear of transmission? I've had protected sex twice and have panic attacks that i have infected my partner is that possible with condom use and no recurrence? How many weeks past do i have to be before i can consider myself infection free? Or is that even possible?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry there isn't more I can do on the emotional side, but of course a distant online service can only provide factual information, statistical probabilities, and so on -- and these alone often are not sufficient. Good luck with it.
I understand from an intellectual standpoint that I'm overreacting. Unfortunately that knowledge doesn't help me emotionally. I will try my best to move on. thanks for your help!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Noted.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm sorry you're having such trouble dealing with your diagnosis of genital warts, and I hope you can eventually come to an understanding -- emotionally as well as intellectually -- that genital warts are a slightly unpleasant but basically minor medical condition. As you probably know, you are not alone; the best estimates are that at least 20-25% of all people have genital warts at one time or another. Almost all of them are able to move on with their lives.
In any case, asking the same questions repeatedly will not change the answers. My replies are therefore brief; I would suggest you also re-read your discussions with Dr. Hook in two threads.
"At what point can i stop checking myself for recurrences?" Dr. Hook told you last March that you could stop checking. I agree.
"At what point can i have unprotected sex without fear of transmission?" The longer you go, the safer it will be, but there is no definitive interval. In general, once warts have been treated and have not recurred in a couple of months, it probably is safe to assume the infection cannot be transmitted.
"I've had protected sex twice and have panic attacks that i have infected my partner is that possible with condom use and no recurrence?" Is it possible? Perhaps, but unlikely. But what would be the big deal if he developed warts? He would then be treated, and like you, they would then go away. And if he has been your partner all along -- since before your warts were diagnosed -- you can safely assume he has already been infected. If so and he hasn't already developed warts, that may never happen.
Do your best to move on. I know you're concerned, and it can take time to acclimate to the trivial nature of genital warts and most other genital HPV infections. This problem isn't worth anywhere near the amount of emotional energy you are devoting to it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
In any case, asking the same questions repeatedly will not change the answers. My replies are therefore brief; I would suggest you also re-read your discussions with Dr. Hook in two threads.
"At what point can i stop checking myself for recurrences?" Dr. Hook told you last March that you could stop checking. I agree.
"At what point can i have unprotected sex without fear of transmission?" The longer you go, the safer it will be, but there is no definitive interval. In general, once warts have been treated and have not recurred in a couple of months, it probably is safe to assume the infection cannot be transmitted.
"I've had protected sex twice and have panic attacks that i have infected my partner is that possible with condom use and no recurrence?" Is it possible? Perhaps, but unlikely. But what would be the big deal if he developed warts? He would then be treated, and like you, they would then go away. And if he has been your partner all along -- since before your warts were diagnosed -- you can safely assume he has already been infected. If so and he hasn't already developed warts, that may never happen.
Do your best to move on. I know you're concerned, and it can take time to acclimate to the trivial nature of genital warts and most other genital HPV infections. This problem isn't worth anywhere near the amount of emotional energy you are devoting to it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
The above post should say "lasered around my vaginal opening" they didn't see anything inside
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.
