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Living with Genital Warts
I apologise for raising a topic which I'm sure has many times been discussed in the past. I've searched the forums quite extensively and read up pretty much everything I can, but I'm still interested in some more views.
As of September last year, I believe I have genital warts. I basically have 1 wart which is recurring. I've been to the GUM clinic a number of times. The first time they gave me the blue Warticon solution which I dabbed on 3 nights a week. After a number of weeks, the wart disappeared. I was a happy man.
A month or two later it was back with a vengenance. It was not particularly big, but it was visible to me, especially when my penis was of different sizes. I went to GUM, they couldn't see it and gave me the all clear - telling me I was free to have unprotective sex if I wanted (but safe sex was still advised). On return home, I could still find the wart. I used Warticon on it again. It vanished. Then it came back.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I went back to GUM and told them the story. I also told them I thought that blue Warticon ink was pretty terrible to use. No problem they say - we'll freeze it off. They do, I leave and am content finally the damn thing has gone. The area that was froze swelled, went pink then gradually skin began to reform over it. However, maybe a month and a bit from that day - that area of my penis is still very pink and noticeable. I have since identified what a consider to be another wart - however it's hardly noticeable and I'm pondering whether to get it looked at or just ignore it. The chances are they wouldn't be able to see it anyway or treatment would irritate it and make it worse than it is.
There's my backstory which I guess people might find useful to know of, my questions are as follows:
Is my penis likely to be permanently scarred from the freezing treatment? If not, how long should it be before I can no longer notice where the affected area?
Does anyone feel it is worth Warticoning / going to get the smaller one frozen also?
Finally - I don't know how to go about my sex life anymore. I think KNOWING you have the virus is actually worse than any warts. I've been single for a while now - most of the women I meet are on night's out. Pulling the old "oh by the way I have genital warts" card out as things get serious scares the hell out of me. I don't feel I can do it. How do you others get by? I find it bizarre that my doctors go by the consensus that if the warts are gone you're safe whereas I've read people on here have been told their partners have had warts up to 4 years on from the break out. I really could do with some advice on how to not be afraid of sex anymore...
As of September last year, I believe I have genital warts. I basically have 1 wart which is recurring. I've been to the GUM clinic a number of times. The first time they gave me the blue Warticon solution which I dabbed on 3 nights a week. After a number of weeks, the wart disappeared. I was a happy man.
A month or two later it was back with a vengenance. It was not particularly big, but it was visible to me, especially when my penis was of different sizes. I went to GUM, they couldn't see it and gave me the all clear - telling me I was free to have unprotective sex if I wanted (but safe sex was still advised). On return home, I could still find the wart. I used Warticon on it again. It vanished. Then it came back.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I went back to GUM and told them the story. I also told them I thought that blue Warticon ink was pretty terrible to use. No problem they say - we'll freeze it off. They do, I leave and am content finally the damn thing has gone. The area that was froze swelled, went pink then gradually skin began to reform over it. However, maybe a month and a bit from that day - that area of my penis is still very pink and noticeable. I have since identified what a consider to be another wart - however it's hardly noticeable and I'm pondering whether to get it looked at or just ignore it. The chances are they wouldn't be able to see it anyway or treatment would irritate it and make it worse than it is.
There's my backstory which I guess people might find useful to know of, my questions are as follows:
Is my penis likely to be permanently scarred from the freezing treatment? If not, how long should it be before I can no longer notice where the affected area?
Does anyone feel it is worth Warticoning / going to get the smaller one frozen also?
Finally - I don't know how to go about my sex life anymore. I think KNOWING you have the virus is actually worse than any warts. I've been single for a while now - most of the women I meet are on night's out. Pulling the old "oh by the way I have genital warts" card out as things get serious scares the hell out of me. I don't feel I can do it. How do you others get by? I find it bizarre that my doctors go by the consensus that if the warts are gone you're safe whereas I've read people on here have been told their partners have had warts up to 4 years on from the break out. I really could do with some advice on how to not be afraid of sex anymore...
I keep hearing that two years is the magical timeframe that warts will be removed, is this the case for most of you? I have GW and am not knowing how to live life anymore with the idea of infecting someone. I've read that this causes women cancer, and I don't want to pass this along or cause such a horrendous thing. I've had this for roughly a year and am only now getting treatments as I thought it was due to shaving. My condition is they are very very small to the point they don't resemble warts and have had doctors use magnifying glass to view them. I was at one point removing them of my own(not wise decision) as I thought they were like typical warts.Cutting them off only spread them(again i know people do dumb things when frustrated).. Im at the point were I don't know how to live life anymore knowing that I have these on my penis. Its very embarassing to talk about, and am on here since my family and friends don't have any advice to give. Has anyone had any success stories or recommended treatments,medicines etc? Im running on my last straw here and don't know how to proceed given my case. I've seen three doctors now. I've had cyro treatment once but they came back. All i want out of life is to live a normal life and to be accepted by a woman i love, but fearing this will only push others away. I really need advice on this as I'm now dealing with depression due to this. I would like things to workout some how. All the support that can be given is deeply appreciated.
God bless
God bless
Well, that is one reason why they say you may still be contagious even if no warts are present. In my opinion, warts are never too small to see. We know our penises too well for that. I'm no expert though in the science of what's happening at the time and at that cellular level to tell you how transfer occurs between outbreaks.
Regardless, your body is still dealing with it, so you can still bank on the statistical outcome that in no more than two years from your first discovery of warts, you will be wart free. If six months and more go by after your last treatment, i'd consider myself past it if I were you.
I also like the idea of using Podophyllin after treatment as well. It F's up the skin cells on the surface of your skin so any cells containing the DNA are destroyed. At least I believe that's how it works. You can look it up to be sure. I had it applied after my last outbreak a couple years ago and I never had any again. Timing? Probably. But I still think it's another wise precaution to take.
Regardless, your body is still dealing with it, so you can still bank on the statistical outcome that in no more than two years from your first discovery of warts, you will be wart free. If six months and more go by after your last treatment, i'd consider myself past it if I were you.
I also like the idea of using Podophyllin after treatment as well. It F's up the skin cells on the surface of your skin so any cells containing the DNA are destroyed. At least I believe that's how it works. You can look it up to be sure. I had it applied after my last outbreak a couple years ago and I never had any again. Timing? Probably. But I still think it's another wise precaution to take.
Since my first episode, which was pretty apparent and very noticeable, I have had 3 recurrences, but of a much smaller but numerous variety and in different areas than the original occurrence. My concern is that even if I have this most recent recurrence taken care of, isn't possible that there will be warts that are too small to see or that will possibly be missed that will not be treated? Will this extend the amount of time my body requires to clear the virus or will they resolve on their own?
Your doctor is misinformed. Not every doctor keeps up on HPV knowledge. Technically he may be right however. From what I can tell with all my readings, it might be something like chicken pox. Do you have the pox virus for life? If you do, does it matter because you can't get it again nor can you transmit it. It's like that with the HPV virus I think. Your body will completely suppress the activity of the virus in about a year, not more than two years for almost everyone who has it. If you get pregnant, have HIV, or undergo chemo someday, there is a chance that HPV can reactivate when the body is severely taxed like that. But otherwise you will be free of it. HPV is a virus and everyone's body is different, so there are only broad generalities of typical HPV infection cycles. These cycles are statistically common so the chances of you falling outside these stats is quite slim.
For you, you need to ascertain how long ago you were diagnosed. What kind were you diagnosed with? If you had warts and had them removed each time you experienced a new outbreak, you should be able to consider yourself over it after six plus months with no breakout. With high-risk HPV, I'm less clear, but the same six months is probably viable. You should not feel guilty.
For you, you need to ascertain how long ago you were diagnosed. What kind were you diagnosed with? If you had warts and had them removed each time you experienced a new outbreak, you should be able to consider yourself over it after six plus months with no breakout. With high-risk HPV, I'm less clear, but the same six months is probably viable. You should not feel guilty.
are you sure it goes away after a few years? my doc told me i'd have it forever
Im in your same state! im 21 too andi really like this one guy, i've had a boyfriend since i was 15 and now i finally can go out and experience other men but i feel so guilty i never do anything with any of them.. i know if i tell them they'll either judge me or just never talk to me again.. and i dont want them to be stuck with this like i am.. everyone says its so common so its not relaly a big deal but it is to me.. idk what to do.
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
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