[Question #8789] Can this be HPV from my situation and wart?
39 months ago
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Hello. I am really anxious about this. Let me explain a bit. I am a straight male 35 years old. I am single for 4 years and I did not change sexual partners very often (let's say 2 per year). For instance, the last time I had sex was in December 2021. In terms of sex, I always use condoms, but no protection during oral sex and kissing. At end of January, I noticed a small bump (one) at the base of my penis. I thought it was a pimple so I let it be and did not draw too much attention to it. The thing then grows a bit but always without pain or itching or anything. It is soft to the touch. I do not smoke, I do not drink alcohol and I am an active person (4 times per week sports) and I do shave my genital area. Now the part where I am very anxious. I meet a very nice girl after a long time and we click. As we dated more so did attraction and we kissed (deep kiss/french kiss) a couple of times (same day) and also touched under the shirt (not on the genital area). The next day it hits me...what if that thing is an HPV wart? And I saw black in front of my eyes, anxiety skyrocketing. Also, I am not sure if she is vaccinated for HPV. I did go to the doctor and I have an appointment by end of the next week but I want to ask you in meantime for your advice and knowledge as I may see this girl again before my doctor's (dermatologist) appointment. I really am afraid of this. I am seeking your advice.
My questions are:
- Is this an HPV ward? (I took some pictures for you to better determine)
javascript:nicTemp(); - What is the risk of her getting HPV if she did not touch even near this wart and nor did I?
- If this is HPV wart, does this mean I can not touch her or kiss her (or anyone) for a very long time till this is gone (1-2 years)?
- If I am correct, if this is HPV it is a non-threatening one (not the one with cancer) because it is a wart?
- If it is a wart, is it transmittable only through touching the wart or also by skin touching or kissing?
- Since HPV is not such a bad thing (from what I read), can we still date, kiss, have sex or in short have a normal romantic relationship?
- What can I do?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
39 months ago
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Welcome to our forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment but in starting this reply, let me tell you that I cannot make a diagnosis over the Internet. You will need to wait for your doctor to do that. In the meantime I urge you not to scratch, squeeze, or other was manipulate the lesion you are concerned about. Doing so will only confuse things.
Second, a few general comments about what you describe. First and foremost the lesion you describe is in a place which is unusual for genital warts to occur. As a person who shaves his pubic hair however this is an area where folliculitis occurs and could be present. Alternatively benign skin tags which are harmless also occur in this location.
Third, is this sexually active male who has likely been sexually active for a decade or more, despite your long history of safe sex (congratulations) you have, in all likelihood acquired HPV infection at sometime in the past. Condoms provide about 50 to 60% protection against HPV but after years of sex with a number of partners it is statistically likely that you have acquired and resolved HPV infections in the past.
This background let me comment on your specific questions:
1. I’m sorry, we have a policy of not looking at pictures. They are all too often misleading and do not represent an adequate substitute for direct examination.
2. HPV is transmitted only through direct sexual contact. The activities you describe our newest convince and should not concern you. If your vision is a word, she was not exposed.
3. Certainly not. The presence of HPV should not be a hindrance at all to touching, kissing or or having sexual contact with others.
4. Nearly all visible genital warts are caused by HPV type 6 or 11. These HPV types are not meaningfully associated with cancer.
5. See reply 2 above
6, Absolutely. I encourage you to look at other posts on the Forum related to HPV. You will see our positions on HPV infection stated repeatedly. If you were vision turns out to be HPV, it should in no way hinder your relationship.
7. I believe I have addressed most of your questions above. The only additional comment I have is that, as your relationship progresses, and as you approach becoming more intimate, I would encourage you to have a discussion about HPV vaccination and past partners. This is a respectful and great way to begin a an intimate relationship.
EWH
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39 months ago
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Where do genital warts/HPV warts occur? I don't think it is folliculitis as it does not hurt. I have one or two before and does not look like it I think.
Sorry about the pictures, I did not know about that policy. I can describe it more than. It looks like a wart but it does not resemble cauliflower. It is in the colour of skin or light pink, soft on touch and rounded (not flat on top). It does not have a white or a black spot on top.
And just to be on the safe side:
- You say "HPV is transmitted only through direct sexual contact", everywhere I read (even on some dermatology hospital websites) that HPV is also transmitted through skin contact or fluids - kissing. Can you explain a bit more?
- "HPV should not be a hindrance" again what I read on the internet (I know, internet, that's why I seek your advice and knowledge)that HPV is not a big deal but nowhere did I see anything about how to have a normal sex life with that.
- If the relationship advances to a more intimate level (witch probably will) how to deal with this? Condom is a must but what about kissing or oral sex? Is it all ok until she or I do not touch this ward?
- I am really confused (and perhaps very undereducated) about this. Like I wrote in 1 and 2, everywhere it is stated HPV is highly transmitted with skin touching and fluids, how can this not affect romantic, sexual life, can you explain more?
- If I am right about what I read from your response, I can continue to have a romantic relationship with this person and not worry about passing HPV to her with only kissing (deep kiss) and touching (caressing) each other skin?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
39 months ago
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Thank you for the additional details. While I appreciate appreciate your efforts to inform yourself through Internet searches, I urge you not to do so. Particularly when it comes to STI‘s including HPV, the Internet is full of misinformation. Much of what is said there is blown out of proportion, taken out of context, out of date, or just plain wrong. Please stay off the Internet.
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1. Direct contact is required for transmission of HPV. It is not transmitted through contact with infected objects such as toilet seats, transfer on one persons hands to another persons genitals, or in fluids.
2. See my comments above. The vast majority of HPV infections resolve without any treatment whatsoever. Others which persist only a tiny fraction go on to progress to pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions. That progression takes place over a period of years and is readily detected through direct examination by healthcare professionals.
3. I would have no concerns about kissing or oral sex. I would again encourage you to be forthright in this discussion with your partner. The trust that such discussions create is worth any tension and need for exclamation. Further, were you to have such a discussion with your new partner, you would no doubt discover whether or not she had had the HPV vaccine, which she should have. If she is vaccinated, her risk, if you were lesion happens to be due to HPV is minuscule.
4. I have already urged you to review other posts on our forum regarding HPV infections and explained how much of what is said on the Internet is alarmist and incorrect. To briefly summarize what you will see there is expanded discussion of the fact that nearly all HPV infections are innocuous and that for the small proportion which progress, following recommended healthcare screening practices (particularly for women, the risks for men are even smaller) detects virtually all HPV infections and allows them to be successfully managed. Please review other posts on this site.
5. Correct
EWH
39 months ago
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Hello. Thank you for your clarification.
I did read other posts as well, but I did not find any direct answer to my understanding. I am not afraid that I could not be treated and cured, I am just worried that I do not infect this girl I am seeing without sacrificing intimate moments. So, just to be safe and sure again, are those statements true as I understand now?
- I can have oral sex, vaginal sex and kissing even if I have (possible) HPV without infecting her unless she touches (private parts, hands, etc.) or kiss the infected area. (sure I will discuss with her beforehand about all this)
- "Direct contact is required for transmission of HPV" this means as I stated above, HPV is transmitted only if a person comes in contact with the infected area. It can not be transmitted with semen, body fluids, touching of skin etc.
- In the case of oral sex (unprotected) or vaginal sex (protected), as stated above it is safe until she does not touch the infected area
- If I remove this wart, the infected area is gone and when healed (up to 6 days) she can touch the area and not get infected
Again I apologize for such basic questions, but I do wish to find the right answers if the internet is flooded with misinformation and outdated information. I do appreciate your time and effort. Are there any good updated articles I can read more on this HPV that are correct?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
39 months ago
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I trust you are aware that we provide three responses to each clients questions. As this is my third response, following this response there will be no further replies and the thread will be closed. I hope the additional information I provide will help to address your anxiety which I fear is more than is warranted.
Before I address your specific questions below, let me remind you that you do not know that the lesion you have found is necessarily a wart and many of its characteristics do not suggest HPV infection. Further, as I have tried to indicate before, HPV infections are for most people innocuous and over 80% of sexually active persons will already have HPV. It is likely that both you and your prospective partner have already been infected with HPV, whether you know it or not. Further, your partner may be vaccinated. She certainly is in the group for whom has been recommended for decades. That is the reason I have repeatedly encouraged you to discuss these issues with her . Now, onto your questions:
1. Correct. In addition, I would add that not every direct exposure/touch results in infection. In fact most do not. The nature of sexual relationships however is that there tend to be repeated exposure’s which is the reason these infections are so common.
2. Also correct.
3. Repetitive. Yes, direct contact is required for transmission of HPV
4. Treatment of visible genital warts weather through freezing with liquid nitrogen, laser or electrocautery, or surgical excision are curative procedures for HPV. Following healing once the lesion is no longer present, transmission is most unlikely.
For additional information on HPV infections I would encourage you to visit the website of the American sexual health Association (ASHA) which has a lot of good information about HPV infections.
I hope the information I have provided will help you. Please don’t worry. EWH
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