[Question #3747] Need your insight

35 months ago

I am a very senior citizen that some how still has a sexual appetite. I am married and love my wife, but sex is long gone between us due to many factors she has had with hysterectomies etc. I found outlets from time to time but always seem to have health concerns after which have never proven correct.

This time however I know I acquired Genital HPV. I had very brief protected intercourse with a lady performed doggy style. 3.5 weeks later I felt slightly nauseas but for only a short time then the next day the same thing. No fever and just a brief discomfort. About a week later I noticed a small flesh colored bump in the middle of my right upper thigh across for my scrotum and a very small one exactly the same location on my left thigh.

Here is my panic, at first I thought the one on my right thigh was simply a pimple and at some point hit it with my fingernail and pulled some off exposing raw skin. Shorty after that I held my 2.5 year old grandsons hand and I am now in a total panic that I passed it on to him. I did not look at it before I held his hand or I would not have touched him and now am so guilt ridden.

I also am bummed out that I have manifested warts where others have no symptom. I am I excellent health but just got a HEP B shot because of elevated liver enzymes 6 months ago but that was just a flook, all is normal now.

Is it true most will clear this thing in a year or two? Will my age work against me even though I never get sick or a cold etc.?

Thanks I have great respect for both of you.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

35 months ago

Welcome back to the forum and thanks for your continuing confidence in our services. I reviewed your three other threads from a little over a year ago.

I'm afraid I disagree with your self-diagnosis of HPV. First, genital warts take at least several weeks to show up, typically 2-6 months, sometimes as long as a year. A week is impossible. Second, the location is wrong: HPV infection usually results from massage of the virus into exposed tissues, and hence the initial warts typically are at the site(s) of maximum friction during sex, i.e. more likely at the base of the penis (above condom range), but not the thighs. (The thighs can be involved, but rarely as the first or only affected site.) Finally, new genital warts are uncommon after age 25-30 and undoubtedly very rare in men "of a certain age" as I think you described yourself.

Accordingly, for sure your thigh bumps are not warts from the exposure a few weeks ago, and probably not genital warts at all. However, even if they are warts, there is absolutely no risk to your grandson or anyone else in your household or with whom you have nonsexual contact. HPV and warts simply are never transmitted to household members, assuming no sexual contact between them. This is true even for those who spend years sharing the same kitchens, towels, toilets, eating utensils, etc.

You should see a physician (ideally a dermatologist) for proper diagnosis and advice. As we discussed in one of your earlier threads, the large majority of genital rashes, bumps, or other skin problems are not STDs of any kind -- especially at your age. Also, various other nonspecific and generally unimportant skin bumps are increasingly common as men pass from their 50s to 70s and higher.

Your transient symptoms (nausea etc) after the last sexual exposure are not due to any infection from that event. Neither HPV nor any other STDs behave this way. If you were anxious or regretful about that sexual decision, that's far and away a more likely explanation.

In other words, I'm pretty sure all this is another round of the same anxieties at the root of your previous three threads. I really don't think you have any STD issues to be worried about.

I hope these comments are helpful. I would enjoy hearing the diagnosis after you have sought professional care for your skin bumps.

HHH, MD

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35 months ago

Hi DR

Just got back from the Dermatologist and of course YOU WERE CORRECT!!! It was not HPV it was Seborrheic Keratosis. He looked at it with a powerful magnifier and assured me it was not Genital HPV. He didn't make a big deal out of HPV said it is everywhere.

I hope at my old age I can find a way to lessen my sex drive, I would have thought it would be long gone by now. Every time I have a sexual encounter no matter how careful I am, something always causes me heartache. I have a wonderful wife and family and simply cannot put myself through this stuff.

Thanks for all you do, you have comforted many people with you rknowledge.

Dan

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

35 months ago

Thanks for the follow-up, and thanks for the thanks about our services. (I might have mentioned seborrheic keratosis, because it's common with age and can appear wart-like.)

I don't have anything more to say about your internal conflicts over your sexuality, except to suggest that professional counseling might be helpful.

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