confused, warts or herpes... - Sexually Transmitted Diseases Message Board

wonderboy905 · 05-10-2005, 11:23 AM

Last week I noticed 3 small warts on my penis, not knowing what I should do about it (obviously going to the doctor asap would have been the smart thing) I purchased some over the counter wart treatment (knowing darn well it shouldn't be used on the genitals). Well after 5 days of using this one of the warts was completely dried up and just fell off and the other 2 had completely dried up as well and just left two very small skin coloured bumps, the skin all around the warts had become very red, probably due to the fact that a 17% salycilic based wart treatment shouldn't be used on soft skin areas (hence the extreme burning I felt when applying it). So now instead of 3 warts, I have 3 reddish (irritated skin) areas. I decided I would go to the doctor's since I was off work, I wanted to properly treat these things in the future (which I should have done all along) and make sure I was cleared up to the point that I could resume sexual activity (I had shared this with my long time gf of 3 years - she tested clean - we have no idea where or how I got it - I haven't been with anyone but her).

Anywho, the doctor dismissed the notion that it might be genital warts, he said the redness and small white bumps looked like herpes and arranged that I go see a skin specialist, I'm still waiting for them to call and notify me when my appointment is. I explained that what I had seen were warts and showed him what I used to treat them (duo film) but he seemed to think it was herpes and that the redness wasn't from the duofilm (despite the fact that only after using it did my skin turn real red).

Should I get a second opinion or just wait for the skin specialist? The infected areas have been improving a whole lot since the warts flaked off and are turning more and more normal in colour - I still want to get it checked out, but is it possible for me to have had herpes and genital warts? I'm very confused, sorry for the long-winded message - I"ve never had anything remotely like this happen to me before and I do regret not going to the doctor's in the first place, since they don't seem to beleive that I had warts...

analog2000 · 05-10-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderboy905

is it possible for me to have had herpes and genital warts?

Oh, that must have hurt! I can't believe you were able to keep that up for several days, I can't even use that stuff on my hands!

To answer your question, yes, anything is possible. Unfortunately, because you didn't get to a doctor right away, you might never know what you really had. You might just have to wait for another outbreak (which might not even happen).

It can be hard for a layperson to distinguish genital warts from other things. For the non-doctor, everything pretty much looks the same. So it is possible that these weren't even warts to begin with.

I can understand why your doc thinks it might be herpes. Broken/inflamed skin with a number of tiny cuts is the hallmark of herpes infection. But since you used acid on your penis, it does seem like that is the most likely cause. The gold standard in herpes diagnosis is a swab test from a fresh sore. So if you get to the specialist before it heals, you might get an answer.

You asked where it could have come from if it is herpes or warts? You say you have never been with anyone but your current girlfriend? Has she had any other partners? Have you had any other sexual contact with someone else (not just intercourse, but oral, genital touching, etc.)? Has she?

Both warts and herpes are VERY contagious, and condoms do not offer complete protection. They are both quite common, and you (or your girlfriend) could have gotten them anywhere. The virus can be dormant for years before you ever have an outbreak. And if you do have herpes or warts, they really aren't anything to worry about.

If there is a next time, go to a doctor right away! I am sure everything will turn out okay for you. Good luck.

wonderboy905 · 05-10-2005, 10:15 PM

Thanks for your advice and encouraging words, it's much appreciated!

You're right, that duofilm STUNG - I was quite sure what I had were warts, since they were small brown ... well warts - like you'd see on a witches nose (yes I know witches aren't real). Since I posted my skin has returned to normal even more so and one of the affected area's is completely gone. I'm glad and releived to see them all but gone, just don't know what to tell the specialist, I don't think wart treatment could remove herpes in 5 days? Yet it seems likely that it could take care of actual warts... I don't know why the dr had a hard time beleiving that.

Well thanks again, it's scary to go through but great to have a place to turn to!