[Question #13281] HPV
 |
23 days ago
|
Doctors, I know you advised me to wait until my biopsy results but I'm 2 1/2 weeks in. I called them and I still have to wait at least 1 1/2-3 1/2 more weeks for my result.
I feel so betrayed by the medical system. Several doctors saying it's not a wart, several saying it is. I don't know what to believe anymore. All I have now for knowledge is you guys.
1. I've never had a wart before. I first noticed a bump down there on March 26th. My last sexual encounter was protected on February 8th. I've spoke to all recent partners who said they were vaccinated or tested. I don't know if I can believe them. It was 1 singular lesion in my pubic area towards the right side of my shaft, closer to the lining of my leg and pubic crease. There was a hair coming out. It didn't grow. No pain. No itching. Nothing. 1 day it looked like an ingrown hair, 2 days later, it had a pebbled/cobblestoned look. I'm certain it'll come back as HPV. I just feel so confused.
2. I read online that HPV clears 90% of the time but you experience genital warts then it's for life - is that true? Also, Gravitt and Doorbar seem to keep complete eradication of the virus as a possibility. Is that true or is HPV for life? Why aren't HPV and HSV treated the same then in that regard? I've been in and out of clinics for years but no doctor ever advised me to get the vaccine. I feel so betrayed.
3. What do I do?
I hope you can answer these questions even though I'm waiting for my result. People here have had their questions answered while waiting for results as well.
Thank you for all that you do.
 |
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
23 days ago
|
I'm sorry to see you back, because after reviewing your recent discussion with Dr. Hook, there is nothing more our forum can do for you. Maybe you'll conclude that this is another example of feeling "betrayed by the medical system". Don't confuse differing medical opinions or a longer than expected biopsy result as "betrayal".
---
That said, I do agree that it should not take this long for a simple biopsy result. I suggest you have another conversation about it with the office of the doctor or clinic where the biopsy was done.
But I also agree with Dr. Hook when he wrote "...you are making a bigger deal out of this than it warrants. To understand why I say this, please review some of the hundreds of discussions of HPV, its management, and its significance." This statement also is not a "betrayal".
It is not plausible that "several" doctors each have said this thing is or isn't a wart. To me, "several" means at least 3-4 for each diagnosis. Have you really seen 7-8 different doctors about this? But probably this was not a wart. Genital warts are not common in the inguinal fold (the crease between groin and thigh). But if it is, it should not be so important to you. Warts should be viewed as an unpleasant inconvenience, not an important health threat. I have no comment about other possible diagnoses.
It is not known with certainty whether all HPV infections persist for life. Some do, maybe all -- but current research and technologies do not have the ability to know for sure. Some HPV experts believe this always is the case; other equally qualified experts do not. When the science is uncertain, it is natural and not a betrayal for medical opinions to differ. In any case, although HPV may persist for life, visible warts do not.
That's all for now. I'll be happy to comment once again if you would like to report your biopsy result when it is available, but will have no further advice until then.
HHH, MD
------
|
23 days ago
|
Thank you, Dr., for answering swiftly. It's not between the inguinal area per se, it's still in my pubic hair region. I was very hairy at the time as well so I don't know if that offers any protection from the virus massaging into my skin but I guess we'll see. I'll be happy to share my result once received. I know I'll have loads of questions. Thank you, again. Talk soon.
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
23 days ago
|
"Public hair region" is even a less likely location for a wart than the groin. And "hairy" doesn't fit with a wart at all. I see no realistic chance it was a wart -- and if it was, I still advise that it doesn't matter. Why do you care so much anyway? That's all for now; no further discussion until and unless you return with the biopsy result.---
|
22 days ago
|
Apologies. I will explain everything once the biopsy result comes in. I'll repurchase questions accordingly as I'm sure I'll be over the limit.
I just wanted to ask, given that my case seems atypical for a wart, is there any chance that the person doing the biopsy examination can mess up the result? As in say it's a wart when it's not? I think I've read some stories of people saying they got a positive HPV result via biopsy but had several additional PCR tests which were negative. Just wanted to clarify, that's all.
I really appreciate everything from all the experts on this website. You've helped many including me.
|
H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
22 days ago
|
While I appreciate your thanks and am glad to have helped, having used your last comment on this thread -- contrary to my request -- you have lost the opportunity to "explain everything" when you have the biopsy result. Repeated questions on the same topic are not permitted and are subject to deletion without reply and without refund of the posting fee. We will make an exception if the biopsy shows the lesion was a wart, but as we have discussed I believe this is unlikely; and for any other diagnosis we would have no comment or advice. (Even a wart probably would not be an STI issue, but more likely a common skin wart due to a nonsexually acquired HPV infection.)
I cannot comment on the possibility of a mistaken biopsy diagnosis. We are not pathologists or otherwise experts in interpretation of skin biopsies, the criteria for biopsy diagnosis of warts, or the frequency with which the pathologist's interpretation is wrong.
Best wishes to you.
---