[Question #14122] HPV question
 |
2 hours ago
|
Hello. I am a 46 year old heterosexual male. Today I went to the dermatologist and she visually inspected a few small and completely flat dark colored spots in the my pubic area near to where the base of my penis starts. She said she was 99% sure these are warts and then proceeded to use liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy). These spots are completely flat (not even slightly raised) and dark colored. Aren't the flat warts not technically considered an STI? I am in generally good health and was wondering what is the likelihood that these warts will reappear? She asked me to see her again in 2 and a half weeks. How many treatments do you think I will need before it will be gone forever? I am very concerned that this will be something that may reappear over the course of my life and was wondering if you can give me any reassurances about the likelihood of them never reappearing after today's session? Or will I need many sessions? Lastly, I mentioned to the dermatologist that I like to receive rimming and she inspected my anal area but saw nothing. She said that she can refer me to a specialist who can do an anal swab to check for HPV. Do you think this is necessary? Is there a high likelihood of catching HPV (either the wart variety or the cancerous variety) from receiving rimming by mouth only? Thank you
 |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 hours ago
|
Welcome back to the Forum. Thanks for your continuing confidence. I'll be glad to provide a few comments.
While I hesitate to challenge a trained dermatologist who had a chance to examine you, the lesions you describe sound a bit atypical for warts which are usually raised, flesh colored and are in a somewhat unusual location for genital warts (they typically occur on the shaft, or head of the penis, not at the base. Are they a recent occurrence? You're at an age when people begin to experience brownish skin lesions often referred to as "age spots". There's a wide variety of other possible diagnoses. You may never know- cryotherapy is rather non-specific and treated warts and other common dermatoses.
If the lesions are warts, this is really not something to worry about. Well over 80-90% of adults your age have or have had HPV and there are few consequences. There are hundreds of other threads on this forum regarding HPV and warts and we make them available for the educational use of our clients. I'd urge you to take a look at some of them for more information.
If they are warts, typically a single treatment is sufficient while on occasion more than one treatment is needed. When warts recur following treatment they usually reappear and the same location is 1-3 months following initial resolution due to treatment.
Oral sex, including rimming rarely results in acquisition of HPV including warts. There are no currently recommended tests for HPV in men and in my opinion, there is little to be gained by an anal swab.
I hope this perspective is useful. Please don't worry. EWH
---