[Question #10238] HPV

24 months ago

Hi Doctors,

My last correspondence was with Dr. Hook several years ago re: bump that was removed from my lower abdomen. The dermatologist said it was HPV even though I told her I didn’t think that was possible because I have only had one sex partner / my wife (and she with me) in my life. ( yes we were both virgins when we married believe it or not).

Fast forward to today. The bump is back and I noticed 2 more just like it except smaller close to it - all on my lower abdomen where I shave my pubic hair. There is nothing at all on my penis, scrotum, groin/thighs.

Based on information I’ve read on this site as well as CDC, NIH and a couple of others, all indicate that warts in men virtually always show up on the penis, scrotum or anus.

I guess my question is, considering the only other sexual experience I’ve had is hand to genital contact, is it a realistic possibility that the bumps could be genital warts?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

24 months ago

Welcome back to work forum. As we discussed over three years ago, both the lesion location and your description make it unlikely to be a wart. You are correct that genital warts occur in the vast majority of instances on the penis, the scrotum or in the anal area of men. As you know, Dr. Handsfield and I respectfully questioned your dermatologist’s casual diagnosis before treating it non-specifically with liquid nitrogen. As both Dr. Handsfield and I suggested over three years ago, given the fact that the lesion has recurred and is accompanied now by other lesions, my advice would be to go to a dermatologist and have the lesion biopsied and examined microscopically. This is not a recommendation I make lightly, but is based on the many questions that you have asked in the past which suggest that if you do not have a firm answer, you will continue to be troubled by it.

I remain quite skeptical that this is a wart. The fact that it occurred on a part of your body which you shave suggested it could well be folliculitis or some other reaction to your shaving procedures.

I hope this perspective is helpful to you. As we have been down this road before, let me caution you against following this question with additional “what if” questions. As you know such questions serve little purpose. EWH.

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24 months ago

Dr Hook,

Thank you for your response. I’m struggling with rationalizing how it could be HPV considering my sexual history. Does it even make medical sense that masturbation would cause warts not on the place where the contact was actually rigorous but on a non genital location? Sorry I don’t mean for that to sound repetitive if it does. Maybe a better question is in your practice have you seen a male exhibit warts only on the abdomen? I’ll report back after I see a doctor. Thanks.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

24 months ago

Sigh. Your reply disappoints me as these questions were answered more than five years ago in previous questions. The answer has not changed. In science and medicine strange things do happen. Warts might occur in rare instances on the lower abdomen. You seem to be, once again, going down a rabbit hole, which will serve you poorly. Please stop Overthinking the question, stay off the Internet, and see another dermatologist sooner than later. EWH. ---