Growth on husband's penis..Help!

[pamh30643]

I don't know if I am posting this in the right area, but here goes. My husband has a growth on his penis that is flesh colored, raised and rough. It very closely resembles a wart. It has been there for at least 6 years and started out as what appeared to be an ingrown hair. He constantly picked at it and it eventually healed but left this growth in it's place. It has grown some, I think, but has not changed a lot in years. There is only the one. He has not developed any more in the last 6 years. I really don't think it is an STD, but he keeps putting off going to the doctor and I am worried. I do not have any of these growths, however I know that it can take years for them to show up. I have read about Seborrheic Keratosis of the penis and I think it sounds very similar, however I have read that this is quite rare. Do genital warts keep growing in size and numbers or could it be possible to have one unchanged for so long? If it were genital warts then obviously I am exposed. I know that HPV is what causes genital warts and some types of HPV also cause cancer. Does the HPV strain that causes genital warts also cause cancer? I am going to make him go to the doctor, but I need some thoughts now!

[oncologyst]

It may be HPV , and it sounds like warts to me. It would be easy to remove them and they will never come back again.

[kdaily]

I have some doubt of it being HPV then... But again i would be able to tell you forsure. HPV can lay dormant for many many years so if he's have more then you and his ex he could have even gotten it from another partner, it can lay for 10 years or more before becoming active... just try to make him feel comfort and maybe just maybe he will go... tell him when he goes to the dermatologist to not even mention an STD and just see what they say. it is understandable to be ashamed of an STD but HPV is soooooo common that its not like it is something to really be ashamed of... again it could even be something else..

As for the seborrheic you'll have to go to the dermatology forum for answers on that, i have no knowledge of it sorry.

[pamh30643]

Yes, I think that is part of it. He is afraid of that because his ex gave him an STD before we started dating. Of course, he was treated for it, but that doesn't mean she couldn't have given him something else. It looks identical to Seborrheic Keratosis. The only difference I can see is that warts are usually attached deeper than the outer layer of the skin, this seems to have grown on top of the skin and doesn't go any deeper than that. It is extremely movable and is a lot like a skin tag. I wouldn't call it cauliflower like, it isn't clustered and doesn't branch off, but it does have a rough texture.

[ManWolf]

My understanding of HPV is that there is more than one.  My buddy had them and he had a couple all over.  

[pamh30643]

Yes, I think that is part of it. He is afraid of that because his ex gave him an STD before we started dating. Of course, he was treated for it, but that doesn't mean she couldn't have given him something else. It looks identical to Seborrheic Keratosis. The only difference I can see is that warts are usually attached deeper than the outer layer of the skin, this seems to have grown on top of the skin and doesn't go any deeper than that. It is extremely movable and is a lot like a skin tag. I wouldn't call it cauliflower like, it isn't clustered and doesn't branch off, but it does have a rough texture.

[kdaily]

It could very well be Warts but it is impossible for us to tell you for sure, is it coliflowered?? It could just be a normal growth the only way for him to know it to see a doctor/dermatologist for a proper exam.

If it is HPV warts it could stay there that long but in most cases it will clear up in some time or they should be removed ie freezing... done by a dermatologist.

It is up to your husband but he should go to make sure everything is ok. make him feel more comfort, he may be afraid it is HPV and maybe thats why he doesn't want to go.