Aa
Worried About My Actions
Dear Doctor,
I am a male who participated in PROTECTED anal sex as both a giver and receiver. My encounters have been with people I did not know very well. I asked each person their status before engaging in any activities. Although, I thought I was being safe re: insisting the wearing of a condom some concerns have arisen.
One year ago I noticed moisture in my anus area. Upon inspection, dermatologist said they were warts. I believe this was done during foreplay as a guy massaged his penis on the outside of my anus. Never knew about HPV. Thought I was being safe. I did not treat them and have gone away a year later. However, I recently noticed just inside my anus a growth that best described as a pencil point. White in color, thin at the top wider at the base and red at bottom. Looks completely diff then any wart I had.
Q) The growth inside the anus could this be a wart? I am concerned it could be cancer. Do warts cause anus moisture? Any idea what this could be?
At the same time, the anal area was extremely red, sore and irritated. My dermatologist said it was a yeast infection. The area cleared up about 95%but the redness and soreness comes back OFTEN. I noticed white prickly heat type bumps, NO blisters and due to frequency I did not think it was herpes. I do have hemmoroids. Due to being over weight, thought it could as simple as friction.
Q) Any ideas what the redness/soreness can be? and why is it coming back so frequently? No sex in a year.
I have read that warts rarely turn into cancer or cause any major problems.
Q) Does still remain true or is there an increased risk due to male anal sex? I am very concerned.
In your posts I have read that protected sex is normally safe sex.
Q) Is this also true for protected anal sex or should be concerned about other STD's and more importantly HIV?
As I have read through the different posts another question has come up. I suffer from cold sores.
Thanks for all you help.
I am a male who participated in PROTECTED anal sex as both a giver and receiver. My encounters have been with people I did not know very well. I asked each person their status before engaging in any activities. Although, I thought I was being safe re: insisting the wearing of a condom some concerns have arisen.
One year ago I noticed moisture in my anus area. Upon inspection, dermatologist said they were warts. I believe this was done during foreplay as a guy massaged his penis on the outside of my anus. Never knew about HPV. Thought I was being safe. I did not treat them and have gone away a year later. However, I recently noticed just inside my anus a growth that best described as a pencil point. White in color, thin at the top wider at the base and red at bottom. Looks completely diff then any wart I had.
Q) The growth inside the anus could this be a wart? I am concerned it could be cancer. Do warts cause anus moisture? Any idea what this could be?
At the same time, the anal area was extremely red, sore and irritated. My dermatologist said it was a yeast infection. The area cleared up about 95%but the redness and soreness comes back OFTEN. I noticed white prickly heat type bumps, NO blisters and due to frequency I did not think it was herpes. I do have hemmoroids. Due to being over weight, thought it could as simple as friction.
Q) Any ideas what the redness/soreness can be? and why is it coming back so frequently? No sex in a year.
I have read that warts rarely turn into cancer or cause any major problems.
Q) Does still remain true or is there an increased risk due to male anal sex? I am very concerned.
In your posts I have read that protected sex is normally safe sex.
Q) Is this also true for protected anal sex or should be concerned about other STD's and more importantly HIV?
As I have read through the different posts another question has come up. I suffer from cold sores.
Thanks for all you help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You should not have STD testing without professional evaluation. STDs are a lot less likely than other explanations for your anal discharge/moisture, so those tests probably will be negative and you'll still need personal care. And some of the other explanations for your symptoms could be dangerous -- for example, advancing cancer. I'm not trying to alarm you, and that particular outcome is unlikely. But certain medical conditions are not safely managed by self-diagnosis and anal discharge is one of them. In any case, although there are websites that advertise STD testing through local laboratories, to my knowledge they are limited to urine and blood testing; I doubt you can arrange for rectal STD testing that way. Your dermatologist should be able to take care of this -- if not, ask for his recommendation for an appropriate specialist.
Doc,
Is there any other over the counter STD testing kits you would reccomend like the Home Access HIV Test? Thanks again
Is there any other over the counter STD testing kits you would reccomend like the Home Access HIV Test? Thanks again
Doctor once again thanks for your time. I quick follow-up and I am going to move on as I know you are busy and other people need your attention as well.
I am so relieved tha the Home Access Test is accurate . That does give me a piece of mind.
Regarding the warts, like I said it has been a year and all exterior warts vanished without treatment. It was just recently I noticed this small interior growth. When I saw the dermatologist last year, he like your self was not too concerned about interior warts as he felt the virus would clear the body itself. I am a bit confused and nervous. Are you saying that medicine just does not know and I should be concerned about cancer down the road and that the body will not clear the virus due to male anal sex. I know HPV has many unanswered questions. Just thought once the warts were gone I would be fine and have my life back.
Lastly, I am going to mke an appointment with my dermatologist, like I said it has been a year. Regarding the anal moisture from a year ago that has left The left side of buttocks red and irritated. You mentioned gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Would any of them clear up and come back? This has been on and off for a year. Can my hemmoroids, hot tubs, gym activities, steam rooms, suanas play any role. If you would not rather speculate and just have me share my results, I understand. Just trying to put all this in perspective. Any way take care thanks again.
I am so relieved tha the Home Access Test is accurate . That does give me a piece of mind.
Regarding the warts, like I said it has been a year and all exterior warts vanished without treatment. It was just recently I noticed this small interior growth. When I saw the dermatologist last year, he like your self was not too concerned about interior warts as he felt the virus would clear the body itself. I am a bit confused and nervous. Are you saying that medicine just does not know and I should be concerned about cancer down the road and that the body will not clear the virus due to male anal sex. I know HPV has many unanswered questions. Just thought once the warts were gone I would be fine and have my life back.
Lastly, I am going to mke an appointment with my dermatologist, like I said it has been a year. Regarding the anal moisture from a year ago that has left The left side of buttocks red and irritated. You mentioned gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Would any of them clear up and come back? This has been on and off for a year. Can my hemmoroids, hot tubs, gym activities, steam rooms, suanas play any role. If you would not rather speculate and just have me share my results, I understand. Just trying to put all this in perspective. Any way take care thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You didn't waste my time at all. It's just that nobody should look to online services as a substitute for direct medical care. We can make only educated judgments, not give specific diagnoses.
The timing (3 months) is only partial reassurance against STD as a cause of the anal moisture. It's on the long side, but it's not that rare for rectal STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis to have delayed symptoms. Most likely it's no STD at all, but better safe than sorry. See a health care provider for professional evaluation.
That's the Home Access HIV test. They use standard, FDA-approved tests that are 100% reliable.
The timing (3 months) is only partial reassurance against STD as a cause of the anal moisture. It's on the long side, but it's not that rare for rectal STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis to have delayed symptoms. Most likely it's no STD at all, but better safe than sorry. See a health care provider for professional evaluation.
That's the Home Access HIV test. They use standard, FDA-approved tests that are 100% reliable.
Dear Doctor,
Thanks for your quick response. I just wanted to ad that I did take a HIV rapid test. I bought it at a drug store, they provide instructions and instruments to send a sample of blood to their lab and they provided the results in 72 hours. Are you familiar with this test? I would assume for FDA to allow it to be sold it should be accurate. Do you have any info on this test? I would hope I could be comfortable with these results. I must say, you nearly knocked me off my chair and I am freaking out a bit. Like I said I always try to be safe but even being safe does not seem to be safe enough.
I understand that you can not diagnose something you can not see and I am sorry I wasted your time on such questions? Thanks for all that you do.
By the way, do not know if this adds anything my initial anal mositure occurred 3 months after last encounter which is the same time I noticed the warts. I know that fits the time period for warts but thought it was pretty delayed for other STD's is that correct thinking?
Thanks again.
Thanks for your quick response. I just wanted to ad that I did take a HIV rapid test. I bought it at a drug store, they provide instructions and instruments to send a sample of blood to their lab and they provided the results in 72 hours. Are you familiar with this test? I would assume for FDA to allow it to be sold it should be accurate. Do you have any info on this test? I would hope I could be comfortable with these results. I must say, you nearly knocked me off my chair and I am freaking out a bit. Like I said I always try to be safe but even being safe does not seem to be safe enough.
I understand that you can not diagnose something you can not see and I am sorry I wasted your time on such questions? Thanks for all that you do.
By the way, do not know if this adds anything my initial anal mositure occurred 3 months after last encounter which is the same time I noticed the warts. I know that fits the time period for warts but thought it was pretty delayed for other STD's is that correct thinking?
Thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
PS: I'll bet there are excellent providers in your town (assuming I am correctly interpreting your username) with expertise in gay men's health and anorectal diseases in men who have sex with men. And perhaps the world's greatest concentration of world-class experts are available a couple hours away, in the Bay Area.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I'll try to help. Congratulations for being sexually safe. I'm especially glad to hear that you consistently discuss HIV status with your partners in addition to using condoms for anal sex.
The occurrence of anal warts and other irritative anal symptoms is not necessarily a sign of an important lapse in sexual safety. Anal warts are more frequent in gay than straight men, but they are pretty common in all sexually active men and women, whether or not they participate in anal sex. The risk is highest with unprotected receptive anal sex ("bottom" in gay parlance) but the exact mechanism of transmission often is unclear. You will never know when and exactly how you became infected.
Anal warts and anal cacner both are caused by HPV, but by different HPV types. Typical warts generally do not turn into cancer. However, people with wart-causing HPV strains (typically HPV types 6 and 11) often are also infected with the cancer-causing types (HPV-16, 18, and others). Therefore, anal warts are a sign of increased risk of anal cancer, but in themselves anal warts are an inconvenience, not a danger.
Some of your questions are best directed to the provider(s) who have examined and treated you for the anal warts and other possible problems. If my advice differs from theirs, please rely on the professionals directly involved in your care. But here goes:
1) I cannot diagnose something I can't see. Certainly a warts is possible. Anal cancer may be possible but is much less likely. Follow up with your provider or, if uncertain of his or her expertise with anorectal disease, ask for referral to a specialist.
2) Warts themselves are painless and non-irritating. However, large or numerous warts can trap moisture and bacteria, leading to irritation. Similar symptoms can be caused by several other conditions, such as yeast infection, nonspecific irritation ("pruritus ani"), STDs like syphilis or herpes, and other problems. I have no way of distinguishing these possibilities in your case. The same advice applies about follow-up with your primary care provider or a specialist.
3) Anal cancer may be more common in gay men with anal HPV than in women or straight men with anal HPV, but the research on this is unclear. Whether anal sex itself, with or without condoms, is the explanation isn't certain. This is an area of active research and clear answers are not yet available.
4) As a man having sex with men, and with multiple partners, you have an elevated risk of HIV and other STDs, even with intended consistent condom use. Every man who has non-monogamous sex with other men should be tested from time to time for HIV, syphilis, and for penile and anal gonorrhea and chlamydia. I also recommend periodic blood tests for HSV-1 and -2, although not all experts agree with that particular advice. Even with consistent condom use, slip-ups and breakage sometimes happen -- and having sex with multiple male partners is inherently risky. For most men with sex lives similar to yours, testing every 6-12 months probably makes sense -- and of course whenever there are symptoms consistent with STD.
The main thing now is to see a provider with the experience and expertise necessary to diagnose your current anal/rectal symptoms; to include HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia tests (urine and rectal) if not done recently; and to then follow that provider's advice about future health protection.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
The occurrence of anal warts and other irritative anal symptoms is not necessarily a sign of an important lapse in sexual safety. Anal warts are more frequent in gay than straight men, but they are pretty common in all sexually active men and women, whether or not they participate in anal sex. The risk is highest with unprotected receptive anal sex ("bottom" in gay parlance) but the exact mechanism of transmission often is unclear. You will never know when and exactly how you became infected.
Anal warts and anal cacner both are caused by HPV, but by different HPV types. Typical warts generally do not turn into cancer. However, people with wart-causing HPV strains (typically HPV types 6 and 11) often are also infected with the cancer-causing types (HPV-16, 18, and others). Therefore, anal warts are a sign of increased risk of anal cancer, but in themselves anal warts are an inconvenience, not a danger.
Some of your questions are best directed to the provider(s) who have examined and treated you for the anal warts and other possible problems. If my advice differs from theirs, please rely on the professionals directly involved in your care. But here goes:
1) I cannot diagnose something I can't see. Certainly a warts is possible. Anal cancer may be possible but is much less likely. Follow up with your provider or, if uncertain of his or her expertise with anorectal disease, ask for referral to a specialist.
2) Warts themselves are painless and non-irritating. However, large or numerous warts can trap moisture and bacteria, leading to irritation. Similar symptoms can be caused by several other conditions, such as yeast infection, nonspecific irritation ("pruritus ani"), STDs like syphilis or herpes, and other problems. I have no way of distinguishing these possibilities in your case. The same advice applies about follow-up with your primary care provider or a specialist.
3) Anal cancer may be more common in gay men with anal HPV than in women or straight men with anal HPV, but the research on this is unclear. Whether anal sex itself, with or without condoms, is the explanation isn't certain. This is an area of active research and clear answers are not yet available.
4) As a man having sex with men, and with multiple partners, you have an elevated risk of HIV and other STDs, even with intended consistent condom use. Every man who has non-monogamous sex with other men should be tested from time to time for HIV, syphilis, and for penile and anal gonorrhea and chlamydia. I also recommend periodic blood tests for HSV-1 and -2, although not all experts agree with that particular advice. Even with consistent condom use, slip-ups and breakage sometimes happen -- and having sex with multiple male partners is inherently risky. For most men with sex lives similar to yours, testing every 6-12 months probably makes sense -- and of course whenever there are symptoms consistent with STD.
The main thing now is to see a provider with the experience and expertise necessary to diagnose your current anal/rectal symptoms; to include HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia tests (urine and rectal) if not done recently; and to then follow that provider's advice about future health protection.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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.
