Hi everyone. Anal warts.

[poz24singapore]

Yeah, it is gross. 2 months ago, i had my diagnosis + the small lump in my ass. My ID dr told me before that it will go off on its own, so 2 months after, it is no longer a small lump.
Anyone from here gone thru this situation? How did you manage it? Did you went for surgery or home remedy?
Thanks for the help.
xx

[Miss Philicia]

Your doctor is wrong. Anal warts should be treated or they will usually grow larger and multiply. They can also lead to an increased risk of cancer in the affected area.

http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_warts/

Treatment considerations depend on severity and location of the warts. A doctor will generally try the least invasive methods first, and if they do not go away will try other treatments.

My advice is to see a colon-rectal surgeon/specialist.

Additionally, once you locate the specialist for this do NOT feel embarrassed by the situation and examination. It's their job and they've most certainly seen this all before. And yes, I have personally endured all of this.

[Kardean]

Did the surgery after all else failed.  Really wasn't that bad and took care of it.  However, be aware they can still come back whether from the current infection that hadn't produce visible warts, or a new infection.

[YellowFever]

Well, looks like there's conflicting advice given. My doctor told me that some warts do go away on their own between 2 months to 2 years. Surgery or other ablative procedures are still routinely offered though, for cosmetic and public health reasons.

http://www.fpa.org.uk/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-help/genital-warts

If left untreated genital warts may disappear, stay the same, or grow larger in size or number. Over time most warts will eventually go away without treatment. For some people this may take a long time, particularly if you have an illness that affects the way your immune system works, making it difficult to fight off infection.
It is not usually harmful to your health if the warts are not treated but you may find them uncomfortable and may not like the way they look. Treating the warts may reduce the risk of you passing them on to someone else.

[wolfter]

Some warts do go away on their own but are likely to return.  These warts can lead to serious issues if not addressed adequately.  I had to have radical ass surgery a couple of years ago because I ignored my health for a while.

I have a specialist that I adore and see regularly now.  It's easier to address early on than to wait!!!! 

greg

[Miss Philicia]

If you are sexually active, not treating your anal warts is irresponsible. Would you leave one on your cock untreated?

[YellowFever]

If you are sexually active, not treating your anal warts is irresponsible. Would you leave one on your cock untreated?

I half suspect my doctor refused to treat because she wanted me to abstain...The other reason being that in England, they only treat visible warts and mine's quite far in... Also, keep in mind that while HPV can be transmitted when warts are present, they can still be transmitted even after treatment.

To quote the same source as above:

You will only be offered treatment if you have visible warts. The treatment will depend on what the warts look like, how many you have and where they are. The aim of treatment is to remove visible warts.

[Miss Philicia]

I believe in the US non-visible anal warts (meaning up in the canal) are treated if viewed by a colon-rectal specialist via anoscope. Otherwise they lead to anal dysplasia which in turn can lead to anal cancer over the long-term.

I'm well aware that once a patient has HPV, regardless of anal wart manifestation, that it's still transmissible. I would assume, however, that having an ass full of flowering growths is more highly transmissible than HPV that is not producing any anal warts.

If you the UK only treats visible warts it sounds as if they are trying to save the NHS money instead of treating the patient properly. You mean to tell me if you go to a colon-rectal specialist for an anoscopy and he sees anal warts he declines to treat them? Additionally, is it protocol in the UK after having interior and/or exterior anal warts to have regular anoscopies performed?

[YellowFever]

I asked the doctor about anal cancer (I was worried too) and she said that anal wart HPV are NOT of the same strains as anal cancer. However, the presence of anal wart strains is highly correlated to anal cancer strains but its a correlation, not causation. So clearing up one strain doesn't necessarily prevent you from continuing to transmit another. Additionally, anal wart HPV strains will not mutate into anal cancer strains (says her). Granted, she's an ID doctor and not the expert on cancer but I wouldn't doubt her claims.

Edit: Some online source to back up her claims:
http://www.amfar.org/uploadedFiles/_amfar.org/Around_the_World/MSM(1)/IGMT%20HPV%20and%20Anal%20Warts%20120213.pdf

Many people worry that their genital warts will place them at
risk of cancer; however, the types of HPV that cause genital
warts do not cause cancer.

...

Treating genital warts does not
necessarily lower a person’s chances of passing HPV on to
his or her sex partner. If warts are not treated, they may go
away on their own, stay the same, or grow in size or number.

[Miss Philicia]

I asked the doctor about anal cancer (I was worried too) and she said that anal wart HPV are NOT of the same strains as anal cancer. However, the presence of anal wart strains is highly correlated to anal cancer strains but its a correlation, not causation. Additionally, anal wart HPV strains will not mutate into anal cancer strains (says her). Granted, she's an ID doctor and not the expert on cancer but I wouldn't doubt her claims.

So is it safe to assume that neither you nor your ID doctor know what strains you have? She is correct in that strains 6 and 11 cause most cases of warts, but since HPV is a group of more than 150 viruses the likelihood of having the other five that can lead to cancer is more than likely, especially in someone with HIV and is a gay male (17 times higher in an HIV-negative gay man than in a sexually active heterosexual male).

Does she plan to follow up with an anal PAP smear and send you to a specialist that performs anoscopies if the results show cellular abnormalities?

[YellowFever]

Does she plan to follow up with an anal PAP smear and send you to a specialist that performs anoscopies if the results show cellular abnormalities?

She stuck a plastic cone up my bum and had a good look with the help of a torch light before declaring that they are harmless warts. Not the cancerous types. No follow up though, just asked me to come back for a check up if I feel pain or discomfort, bloody stool, etc...

Edit: I just wikied what anoscopy is, it is 'plastic tube + light -> up the bum'. So I had one!

[Miss Philicia]

That seems odd to me.

[YellowFever]

From their perspective, since treating warts does not remove the anal cancer strains (even if it did hitch a ride on the same boat as the wart strains) so why bother?

[mecch]

From their perspective, since treating warts does not remove the anal cancer strains (even if it did hitch a ride on the same boat as the wart strains) so why bother?

Where are you, UK?  Are you gay? 

Reading this thread, this is my idea. If you are gay, you are going to have a better quality of life going forward if you steel yourself to stick your ground with the medical establishment. This would apply to ALL health challenges, going forward, not just this case of warts.

If you were getting a vibe that the doc thinks you need to abstain from from anal sex, as a solution, don't put up with that nonsense!!!!!   

And push to get your anal warts treated and eliminated.  Really, no gay guy (I can't speak for straights) wants a butt full of warts. That goes for the passif with the warts in the butt, or the many active parter who would want to go in that butt...   

I can't say I know the details of what level and thoroughness of care you have a right to, but in a pretty rich country like UK, if that is where you are, I would expect you could get more thorough attention to this, if you start insisting upon it and taking some initiative to figure out how it will be possible.

[Miss Philicia]

From their perspective, since treating warts does not remove the anal cancer strains (even if it did hitch a ride on the same boat as the wart strains) so why bother?

That is why after having anal warts you should have a yearly PAP smear to detect cell abnormalities -- I think the report comes back with a strain analysis or something. I'm not a doctor obviously. If there's something irregular on the report you should be referred to a colon-rectal specialist for annual anoscopy check-ups which in turn then detect anal dysplasia (mild, moderate, high grade) and if high grade treat with infrared coagulation.

[poz24singapore]

I asked the doctor about anal cancer (I was worried too) and she said that anal wart HPV are NOT of the same strains as anal cancer. However, the presence of anal wart strains is highly correlated to anal cancer strains but its a correlation, not causation. So clearing up one strain doesn't necessarily prevent you from continuing to transmit another. Additionally, anal wart HPV strains will not mutate into anal cancer strains (says her). Granted, she's an ID doctor and not the expert on cancer but I wouldn't doubt her claims.

Edit: Some online source to back up her claims:
http://www.amfar.org/uploadedFiles/_amfar.org/Around_the_World/MSM(1)/IGMT%20HPV%20and%20Anal%20Warts%20120213.pdf

This is what exactly what my doctor told me also, Anal Cancer is a different strain from warts strain.

[poz24singapore]

Thank you guys for your awesome replies. But anyone out there who have experienced in treating their warts (Anal warts - external)? Yes, my ID dr told me that since i'm a newly Dx HIV+ patient, she concentrated on controlling first my Viral Load. Then will focus on my warts after. I'm just worried that nearly 2 months after that, it grew more.

[mecch]

There are many people here who have had anal warts and have pursued treatment. Usually quite successfully. Individual results may vary as to how many treatments, pain, etc.  What kind of treatment, as well.

Poz24 - if you are worried about rapid growth, discuss with this ID about exactly when you can start wart treatment.  Have you now been on HAART for 2 months? How is that going?

[Miss Philicia]

I had moderate sized interior anal warts, but by the time of treatment I by chance developed an exterior grade 3 hemorrhoid from lifting a heavy air conditioner up 4 flights of stairs. So my doctor would not treat the warts until the hemorrhoid went away, and by that time the warts had multiplied and were thus more difficult to get rid of.

My regular HIV doctor actually began the treatments instead of sending me elsewhere -- this was 16 years ago so it's not completely clear but we tried several sessions of freezing them and maybe another process where they are burnt but they never went away completely. After several months of this I was adamant about doing something else so he had a dermatologist that came into see patients in his office twice a week and sent me to him. The dermatologist used a local anesthesia and cut the remaining warts out and stitched me up -- probably did some burning of remnants as well.

All in all it royally sucked and took up a lot of my time, plus healing time after the mini-surgery. It put me out of service from having sex for maybe eight months from diagnosis through healing time. But the good news is that they never returned.

Five years after that my next HIV doctor gave me an anal PAP smear which showed irregular cell structures so, in fact, I did have other strains of HPV necessitating seeing a colon-rectal specialist for anoscopies on an annual basis, including one incidence of high-grade dysplasia which was treated with infrared coagulation. But the rest of my visits during the past decade have only resulted in them taking biopsies which have been benign. However I have had two friends that procrastinated having any of that done and developed anal cancer, though after treatment they are still around.

[poz24singapore]

There are many people here who have had anal warts and have pursued treatment. Usually quite successfully. Individual results may vary as to how many treatments, pain, etc.  What kind of treatment, as well.

Poz24 - if you are worried about rapid growth, discuss with this ID about exactly when you can start wart treatment.  Have you now been on HAART for 2 months? How is that going?

I'm now on my 44th day of taking Atripla. I'll be seeing my ID Dr in 10more days to check my liver, kidney and Viral Load status. I'm worried that it would spread all over my body 😓.

[Miss Philicia]

Anal warts will not spread all over your body.

[YellowFever]

That is why after having anal warts you should have a yearly PAP smear to detect cell abnormalities

I think my doctor was planning to incorporate that as a yearly check up. I specifically remember that she was interested in anomalies rather than strains. Also, just to clarify, she didn't flat out refused to treat me, the reason was that the warts were hanging off a delicate part of the colon and would be very difficult to heal after cryo. So add the fact that the warts arent visible anyways, she says its best to just wait. I was just relieved to know that I don't have the early signs of arse cancer and given the reassurances from the doctor that anal warts != arse cancer, I was happy to leave it be for the moment...

If it wasn't obvious from the many posts before, yes I live in the UK now. And no, I won't pick up the local habit of complaining to/about the NHS, until I have to.

[mecch]

Good!
But remember - the squeaky wheel gets the grease. So sometimes we have to squeak a bit to get what we need..

[Miss Philicia]

The bottom line is what while all of this can be a huge annoyance, it's not particularly any worse than having a root canal or dental crown work. I think people make a psychological issue out of it because it involves doctors looking up your butt hole.

[Jeff G]

I had two surgeries to remove anal warts . After the second surgery had healed I had weekly appointments for about 2 months where the surgeon would put me in a chair that went bottoms up and he was open me up and swab some sort of solution over the area where the warts were before surgery . He was very through and I have never had another wart in over 15 years now . It was so long ago I can't remember the particulars but I do remember asking him if all doctors did this kind of follow up and he told me that most didn't .

My experience may not be helpful but thought I would share anyway .

[Miss Philicia]

I don't think mine did that, but maybe he did -- obviously they kept looking back there after they sliced them out so maybe so. Both my HIV doctor and dermatologist were gay men and had been treating anal warts (and other non-HIV STDs) by that time since before the AIDS epidemic began. And, of course, in NYC they always had a steady stream of cases.

[Jeff G]

Speaking of ... I just got a call to schedule a lower endoscopy or whatever its called for a checkup .

[Miss Philicia]

That's for your intestines though, not like an anoscope which only goes up an inch or two in your buttonhole.

I'm overdue a few months for my annual anocopy check up but I'm going to switch to a new doctor so I've been procrastinating calling. Anyway, sometimes I think they're being too conservative and I can probably get away with doing it every other year.

[Jeff G]

That's for your intestines though, not like an anoscope which only goes up an inch or two in your buttonhole.

I'm overdue a few months for my annual anocopy check up but I'm going to switch to a new doctor so I've been procrastinating calling. Anyway, sometimes I think they're being too conservative and I can probably get away with doing it every other year.

They will be doing both .

[poz24singapore]

I had two surgeries to remove anal warts . After the second surgery had healed I had weekly appointments for about 2 months where the surgeon would put me in a chair that went bottoms up and he was open me up and swab some sort of solution over the area where the warts were before surgery . He was very through and I have never had another wart in over 15 years now . It was so long ago I can't remember the particulars but I do remember asking him if all doctors did this kind of follow up and he told me that most didn't .

My experience may not be helpful but thought I would share anyway .

This is one of my main problem, I can't commit to a weekly visit as i'm not a resident in Bangkok (which where i'm going to have my surgery).

[Jeff G]

This is one of my main problem, I can't commit to a weekly visit as i'm not a resident in Bangkok (which where i'm going to have my surgery).

Many people have a good result with a single surgery so you you be optimistic and get regular checkups to monitor that you are wart free and no anal dysplasia is there or progressing . 

[poz24singapore]

Thanks Jeff for cheering me up. I'm going to have a 2nd opinion for my warts treatment this coming August.

[Jeff G]

Thanks Jeff for cheering me up. I'm going to have a 2nd opinion for my warts treatment this coming August.

You are welcome . 

[Since1993]

Low CD4 counts can make anal condyloma more resistant to treatment.  Sometimes colorectal surgery is a better option if there are large numbers of condyloma which require numerous office visits for treatment.

Treatment and surgery is no guarantee that condyloma won't return.  However, if you want to reduce the spread of HPV, reduce your risk of anal cancer and make your @ss look pretty, get treated.

[justme18]

So I want to offer you another option for treatment.  I had terrible anal warts years ago.  I went to a Dr. and he told me I had to have surgery to have them removed.  I didn't have the money to undergo surgery but I did find something to get rid of them.  There is a company called forces of nature, and they have a product called warts no more.  It made all of them shrink and fall off.  I was so happy!!!  Hope this info helps!

[Jeff G]

So I want to offer you another option for treatment.  I had terrible anal warts years ago.  I went to a Dr. and he told me I had to have surgery to have them removed.  I didn't have the money to undergo surgery but I did find something to get rid of them.  There is a company called forces of nature, and they have a product called warts no more.  It made all of them shrink and fall off.  I was so happy!!!  Hope this info helps!

Hi Justme . Welcome to the forum . I see you have been a member for a few years so I'm happy to see you post . How about telling us a little about yourself ? 

[mecch]

I hardly think a "natural" potion is going to be an effective treatment of warts up in the anus....  Plus the reviews say it has a vile odour....  But hey, if it worked for you, that's good! 

[poz24singapore]

I tried the "the natural potion" and it didn't work. Anyway, i'm going to st. Luis this weekend to get this done. Thanks everyone.