[Question #10214] #9430 and 3323

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24 months ago
Hello Doctors! Once again I find myself back on this thread and as always with gratitude for this resource!
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24 months ago
A quick update since my last post. The biopsy came back positive for genitals warts. Since then, through a combination of cream and the freezing procedure, the doctor gave me the clear. 
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24 months ago
My concern was that there remain some dark spots that feel raised to me. The doctor insisted that this is all to be expected and refused to conduct additional procedures. I’ll add that I do not have any inflated anxiety around HPV however this doesn’t seem like scarring or pigmentation. Is what I am describing above consistent with what a person can expect when the warts have been “cleared”? Thank you!
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24 months ago
PS my apologies for multiple messages. The forum wasn’t allowing me to post it as one message.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
Welcome back to the forum. Thank you for your continued confidence in our services.

There have been no published studies on the appearance of wart-involved tissues after treatment. We're dependent entirely on clinician experience -- and in STD clinics we generally do not reexamine patients who had previous warts unless they believe the warts have recurred or they have other questions. This is a small minority of all treated patients. So all I can say here is that your description of "raised" areas "dark spots" seems consistent with expected skin appearance after successful treatment of warts, and apparently your doctor agrees. Presumably she at least examined the area, right? If so and if she reassured you that it didn't suggest recurrent or persistent warts, it seems reasonable to accept that advice. Or conceivably seek a second opinion.

I hope these comments are a little bit helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD
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24 months ago
Thank you Dr. Handsfield:
I did consider getting a second opinion. The main thing holding me back is that I’ve been with the same Doctor my entire adult life and the way the lesions have developed seems to be difficult to diagnose on their appearance alone which is why she had ordered a biopsy on both occasions (and even in that instance it seems the first biopsy missed the diagnosis which led them to change appearance and grow over the years).  So I’m concerned there may be limitations with a new doctor given the unusual way these appear and that it took about 5 years to even figure out they were actually warts.

I do have a follow up question relating to that. To my understanding, I probably had HPV from back in 2018 and due to a missed diagnosis we missed the window to deal with them fast. How would this delayed diagnosis impact my body’s ability to now clear of the virus within the usual timeframe that most people are able to clear it?  

Thank you! 

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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
Thanks for the explanation. Sorry I can't help more with your current diagnosis. But most likely it's nothing, especially not a recurrence of warts.

There are no data, but no reason to suspect that delayed diagnosis and treatment of warts has any effect on eventually clearing the virus, or any other adverse health effect. I wouldn't worry at all about that.
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24 months ago
Thank you, Dr.! In my experience of returning to this forum (whether for a question of my own or to look up other resources from other threads) it’s consistently been a safe space that helps clarify misinformation that remains out there regarding HPV.
Thank you again!
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
I'm glad you appreciate our services -- and indeed we endeavor to be the safest of spaces when it comes to sexual health in general and STIs in particular. Thanks for the thanks.---