Having now had a genital warts diagnosis confirmed I would like to know should I inform past partners 

I have been with my current partner for 13 years as stated in my previous question

Also should my wife be worried about oral HPV infection

Any advice is welcome 

Regards 

I also have to add that I'm puzzled:  your description of your penile lesions is so profoundly atypical for warts that it makes me wonder about the dermatologist's confirmation of the diagnosis. In my 50 years in the STI business, I've never seen anyone with genital warts that were "dark pink/red color, they are completely flat to the extent that if I run my finger across the lesions I cannot feel them." Although I'm no dermatologist, a macule -- a flat skin lesion that cannot be felt -- is not consistent with warts. And pink/red also is unusual. You might have a conversation along these lines with the dermatologist. Or get yet another opinion, e.g. from another dermatologist or an STI specialist (or GUM -- genitourinary medicine -- if you're in the UK, as perhaps implied by your spelling of "colour"). Such as an NHS GUM clinic. Whether another opinion from a dermatologist or GUM clinic, if they agree the diagnosis is uncertain a biopsy might be considered.

OK, now assuming I'm wrong and you indeed have genital warts: I would strongly advise against informing past partners. Nobody ever is obligated to tell past partners about current HPV infections, especially when it is likely the problem is from reactivation of a distant past infection, and certainly not going back over a decade! Since 90% of all people acquire genital HPV at least once and often carry it for life, your past partners are no more likely to be carrying HPV than anyone else; and in absence of symptoms there is nothing they can do, and informing them would have absolutely no effect on their risk of an important health problem now or in the future.

Oral HPV is very common and generally harmless. And the HPV types that cause genital warts -- usually HPV 6 or 11 -- do not cause the only serious outcome of oral HPV, namely pharyngeal cancer. That's a rare problem anyway, and is caused almost entirely by HPV 16, which doesn't cause warts. As Dr. Hook already advised, even if you have warts, which I continue to doubt, it would have no implications for your wife's health, either genitally or orally.

Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

For clarity, when the penis is flacid the lesions look more like a red / pink rash has developed, when the penis is erect the lesions look more flesh coloured but still not detectable to the  touch

I appreciate your comments and thank you for a very valued service 

Regards 

Mike

Thanks for the kind words. That's why we're here!

Your feedback is much appreciated 

All the best 

Mike