[Question #10881] HPV
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19 months ago
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Hello. I have a question regarding HPV. I have not been sexually active in 7 months, not sure if that is relevant. I was vaccinated with Gardasil from 2016-2017. I recently noticed a flesh covered raised piece of skin above my perineum. It’s small, and I can move it around - it’s more pronounced at normal resting position but when I take a mirror to it and “spread” - it looks like a flesh covered raised piece of skin. I’ve read warts can manifest this way and not all look like the cauliflower type of wart, but I’m not sure I would be able to move it with my fingers if it WAS a wart. I assume the shots gives me some immunity to acquiring warts but given that was 7-8 years ago, does that still apply?
Thank you in advance!
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
19 months ago
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Welcome back, but sorry you found it necessary.
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As discussed in at least one of your many previous threads, we cannot make diagnoses from this distance and the forum should not be used with that intent or hope. HPV, your HPV vaccination, and genital warts also have been discussed.
All I can say is this doesn't sound like a wart; it's a pretty good description of a skin tag, not considered abnormal. And as discussed previously, yes you are largely immune to newly acquired warts -- but not to reactivation of an HPV infection that might have been acquired before you were immunized. The vaccine prevents HPV types 6 and 11, which cause ~90% of genital warts. Vaccine protection probably is life long and for sure a minimum of ten years. If you remain concerned, show the bump to a doctor.
HHH, MD
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19 months ago
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Sorry, I am working on my anxiety over stds with therapy and medication. It’s a slow progress but this is something I’ve noticed and figured I’d ask.
If it was a reactivation of an HPV infection that might have been acquired before I was immunized - would have it showed up on a PAP as low risk HPV since low risk causes warts? I’ve only ever had HPV high risk.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
19 months ago
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A dormant HPV infection does not show up on Pap smear. A positive Pap result for HPV has to be either a new infection or reactivation of an old one. Sorry, but there will never be any way for you to know whether or not you might have had a past HPV infection, whether a wart-causing or other HPV type. But you are preventing any harm or serious outcome by following standard Pap smear guidelines. Follow them and then do your best to ignore and forget about HPV. It's a normal, expected part of human existence.
And anyway almost certainly it isn't a wart.
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18 months ago
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Thank you so much for the insight and guidance! As my final follow up question - is it possible to only have one wart and typically in the perineum region? My pap isn’t until late February so I can’t ask until then. I appreciate all you’ve done to address my questions over the years.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
18 months ago
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Single warts are uncommon but not rare. More important, your description is against wart and more in favor of skin tag, as discussed above -- and these become more common with age. (As I recall, you're in your late thirties, right! Middle age is upon you!)
If I have counted correctly, this is your fourteenth forum question. I believe that's the record. Repeated questions on the same topic, especially when anxiety generated, are discourage. Your topics have varied, but the tone and underlying psychology have not. I'm going to ask that this be your last. ASHA is not interested in repeated fees when the answers usually are obvious or at least predictable, and such questions have limited educational value for other readers, one of the forum's main goals. Thank you for your understanding. I do hope the discussions have been helpful; I imagine that most future questions that may come to mind have been discussed and can be answered by reviewing the previous ones.
Best wishes and stay safe.
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