Unfortunately, I am having a lot of anxiety about the spot I spoke of in my previous post. I’ve read through a lot of these threads and I understand that ~90% (i think I read that right?) of people will have HPV at least once in their lifetime. So, I’m sure I have had it in the past, statistically. I do believe I had a wart on the shaft of my penis a long while ago, but it has since disappeared. I’m not 100% sure if it was, but if it was, I’ve read on here that there is no need to tell a current or future partner of a past infection. Is that correct? Other than typical relationship conversations about stds and such as trusts builds, of course. 

If this spot does turn out to be a wart, do I need to disclose to past partners? I’m leaning towards no as I believe I read that it all it will do is cause unnecessary worry and there’s no telling if I had it when I was with hose partners. 

I’m a 28 year old male who is daily sexually active. Should I receive the HPV vaccine? I know that it has only been studied up to 26, but i believe I saw on here that studies for 27+ have been done and shown a positive result? 

I’ve scheduled an appointment with my provider and dermatologist in hopes to clear up my anxiety, but part of me doesn’t want to know if it is a wart as I believe it will cause me a lot of stress and guilt. 

As we discussed unlikely the spot you are obsessed about is a wart. But even if it is, genital warts should be viewed as a minor inconvenience, not an important health issue. The way you describe your possible wart long ago, apparently it was no big deal, right? That was the right perspective. Why all the concern now? (Even back then, since you apparently were not professionally diagnosed, maybe not genital warts, which uncommonly are single; usually there are several warts.)

What you understood in the past and apparently have also seen on this forum, that there is no need to disclose past warts to either current or past sex partners, remains the consensus among most experts and is our advice on this forum. In the unlikely event your current problem is confirmed as an active wart (not a scarred, "burned out" one), it would be a kindness to inform partners with whom you had sex after the lesion appeared or you first noticed it. But nobody else, either because of the current issue or your possible distant past genital wart.

It is not true that HPV vaccine has been studied only up to age 26; there are extensive data in older persons, mostly up to age 45 or so. HPV immunization is recommended routinely for sexually active persons up through age 26; after that, new HPV infections are sufficiently uncommon in many persons that vaccination isn't considered necessary. However, it is entirely reasonable for older persons (up to age ~45) to be immunized if they are likely to be exposed (singles in dating mode, for example) or just to reduce anxiety about HPV. So I would say it definitely makes sense for you; I suggest you discuss it with your doctor and/or the dermatologist, regardless of the diagnosis of the penile lesion at this time.

Do try to reorient your psyche to HPV as a normal, expected consequence of being sexual; unavoidable and usually harmless, with the rare possibly serious outcomes preventable with immunization. This really isn't worth the level of anxiety you seem to be experiencing!

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

Just to be clear— if I did have a past infection there is no need to inform past or current partners of that particular circumstance?  

"...will removal...still warrant disclosure" and "if this current spot":  Of course it will make no difference in regard to informing recent past partners. As for future partners, probably removal or ablation (e.g. cautery, freezing) immediately reduces transmission chances, but no data are available. Certainly within a few months, if there is no recurrence, it is fair to assume the underlying HPV infection is gone.

That concludes this thread. I hope the two discussions have been helpful, in particular lowering your concern. Good luck and stay safe.