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Lumps downstairs
For the past couple of days, I've noticed a few lumps just between my back passage and my vagina. They are not painful, but I'm quite worried as my partner was unfaithful to me a couple of months ago, and I fear that he may have passed something on to me.
The most usual cause of lumps like these are genital warts. Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmissible infections and are caused by members of the human papilloma virus (HPV) family and at least 60 different types exist.
The wart virus gains entry to the body through the minute cuts or splits in your skin during skin to skin contact during sex with an infected person. Many carriers of the wart virus do not have active warts, so lack of visible warts on a sexual partner does not mean they are free from infection.
Using a condom helps to prevent transmission of the wart virus, but may not give total protection as it may not cover all affected areas (for example, warts may be present on the scrotum). The viruses stimulate overgrowth of skin cells to form warts that can vary in shape and size from small, multiple, finger-like projections to single, large growths that can occasionally grow to the size of a walnut (especially during pregnancy).
Once you're infected, the virus lies dormant and warts may then appear from several weeks to 20 months afterwards, so you may have been exposed the virus quite a long time ago. Some people are naturally immune and never show signs of infection, but as genital HPV is so common, it is thought that the majority of sexually active people have been exposed to HPV infection at some time. Even when warts are treated and disappear, the wart virus can still be found lying dormant in skin cells, so that recurrences and transmission to others can occur. Make an appointment with your local genito-urinary medicine clinic for a full screen, proper diagnosis and treatment.
The wart virus gains entry to the body through the minute cuts or splits in your skin during skin to skin contact during sex with an infected person. Many carriers of the wart virus do not have active warts, so lack of visible warts on a sexual partner does not mean they are free from infection.
Using a condom helps to prevent transmission of the wart virus, but may not give total protection as it may not cover all affected areas (for example, warts may be present on the scrotum). The viruses stimulate overgrowth of skin cells to form warts that can vary in shape and size from small, multiple, finger-like projections to single, large growths that can occasionally grow to the size of a walnut (especially during pregnancy).
Once you're infected, the virus lies dormant and warts may then appear from several weeks to 20 months afterwards, so you may have been exposed the virus quite a long time ago. Some people are naturally immune and never show signs of infection, but as genital HPV is so common, it is thought that the majority of sexually active people have been exposed to HPV infection at some time. Even when warts are treated and disappear, the wart virus can still be found lying dormant in skin cells, so that recurrences and transmission to others can occur. Make an appointment with your local genito-urinary medicine clinic for a full screen, proper diagnosis and treatment.
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iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB