HPV Support Group
Human papillomavirus is a diverse group of DNA-based viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans. More than 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been characterized. Some HPV types cause benign skin warts, or papillomas, for which the virus family is named. HPVs associated with the development of such "common warts" are transmitted...
Let me start off by saying I hate vaginas! They are just an atrocious looking mess with 9 million things going on. Half the time you don't know what the heck to look at you think everything looks like something is wrong!
Every other week I am I am freaking out that I have warts or something down there. I'm a psycho with a mirror and sometimes flashlight in every position and spread eagle examining things like a scientist! Please tell me I am NOT alone and other women are doing this???
Then I read read read and get more paranoid. I look at pictures online and make myself sick and nervous! ugh!
Anyway, I have a few little bumps, spread out - very hard to see unless I stretch the skin. They are basically flat and skin colored. Sometimes I notice them a little more prominent after I shave and sometimes I don't notice them at all. In the past I have gone to my primary doctor because I was paranoid and she just said they are normal bumps, maybe from shaving maybe not but explained that there are many bumps that are normal in the vagina and I should not be worried and she had no concern at that time that they were warts.
I left well enough alone for a long time, some seem to go away and then here and there the same type of bump will pop up in the area and come and go. It's only been about a week since I really started getting paranoid about these bumps I recognized again. About a month ago I had two other smaller bumps that were not changing but they were kind of harden. I was determined to prove to myself they were not a wart and low and behold I squeezed them and a darn little blackhead come out..whew sigh of relief and immediately they went away after the blackhead was removed. These other little bumps are on a more sensitive part of the labia so I can't exactly squeeze them, plus they are more flat.
I don't know if I should just leave them alone and go on with my life and keep an eye on them to see if they change or there are more of them or if I should be more aggressive. I really don't want to go to the doctor about it. If I go back to my primary I have a feeling she will say the same thing and tell me leave it alone, it's nothing. My fear is actually going to a dermatologist and thmn confirming my worst fear that it's genital warts, then I'll want to jump into oncoming traffic!
After all my research and reading that is frying my brain, Last night I tried the vinegar test to see if they turn white. The don't. I also tried an application of ACV for an hour or more and then applied tea tree oil over night with a cotton pad. Well of course now I am sore today and irritated but I have been putting some neosporin on the area and then applying a bit more tea tree oil with a qtip since this morning. I was planning to do the ACV again tonight for as long as I can tolerate it and then just dabbing on the tea tree oil before going to bed. I don't think I can handle another night sleeping with cotton pad on it. I'm definitely welted already. My thought was, the tea tree oil should not hurt and if it's another skin condition perhaps it will heal it since it's used for many different skin issues. I don't know. Trying to stay slightly optimistic here.
I could scream! Whatever this is I want it to just go away on it's own. I swear it's so damn small almost not visible to the eye if anyone else was looking at it but I'm still freaking out. Probably 9/10 people wouldn't even notice it on themselves and if I wasn't shaved it would never be noticeable. If I showed it to anyone they be like WHERE...I don't see anything and it's not something that would even show up if I tried to take a photo. So truthfully I don't know if the tiny spots are warts or not but I'd rather try to treat it on my own and give myself peace of mind than to deal with a possible diagnosis I don't want to here, prescriptions and more stress at the Dr. etc.
I'm having a tough time not obsessing over this and it's affecting my daily routine as in I'm more focused on worrying than doing regular daily things. I'm distracted at work, don't want to eat, don't want to go to the gym. I just want to attack myself with a mirror and hope when I look something will have changed for the better! Thoughts, advice, suggestions, encouragement, similar stories... responses welcome please and thanks!
Stressing tremendously,
Worry Wart!
Every other week I am I am freaking out that I have warts or something down there. I'm a psycho with a mirror and sometimes flashlight in every position and spread eagle examining things like a scientist! Please tell me I am NOT alone and other women are doing this???
Then I read read read and get more paranoid. I look at pictures online and make myself sick and nervous! ugh!
Anyway, I have a few little bumps, spread out - very hard to see unless I stretch the skin. They are basically flat and skin colored. Sometimes I notice them a little more prominent after I shave and sometimes I don't notice them at all. In the past I have gone to my primary doctor because I was paranoid and she just said they are normal bumps, maybe from shaving maybe not but explained that there are many bumps that are normal in the vagina and I should not be worried and she had no concern at that time that they were warts.
I left well enough alone for a long time, some seem to go away and then here and there the same type of bump will pop up in the area and come and go. It's only been about a week since I really started getting paranoid about these bumps I recognized again. About a month ago I had two other smaller bumps that were not changing but they were kind of harden. I was determined to prove to myself they were not a wart and low and behold I squeezed them and a darn little blackhead come out..whew sigh of relief and immediately they went away after the blackhead was removed. These other little bumps are on a more sensitive part of the labia so I can't exactly squeeze them, plus they are more flat.
I don't know if I should just leave them alone and go on with my life and keep an eye on them to see if they change or there are more of them or if I should be more aggressive. I really don't want to go to the doctor about it. If I go back to my primary I have a feeling she will say the same thing and tell me leave it alone, it's nothing. My fear is actually going to a dermatologist and thmn confirming my worst fear that it's genital warts, then I'll want to jump into oncoming traffic!
After all my research and reading that is frying my brain, Last night I tried the vinegar test to see if they turn white. The don't. I also tried an application of ACV for an hour or more and then applied tea tree oil over night with a cotton pad. Well of course now I am sore today and irritated but I have been putting some neosporin on the area and then applying a bit more tea tree oil with a qtip since this morning. I was planning to do the ACV again tonight for as long as I can tolerate it and then just dabbing on the tea tree oil before going to bed. I don't think I can handle another night sleeping with cotton pad on it. I'm definitely welted already. My thought was, the tea tree oil should not hurt and if it's another skin condition perhaps it will heal it since it's used for many different skin issues. I don't know. Trying to stay slightly optimistic here.
I could scream! Whatever this is I want it to just go away on it's own. I swear it's so damn small almost not visible to the eye if anyone else was looking at it but I'm still freaking out. Probably 9/10 people wouldn't even notice it on themselves and if I wasn't shaved it would never be noticeable. If I showed it to anyone they be like WHERE...I don't see anything and it's not something that would even show up if I tried to take a photo. So truthfully I don't know if the tiny spots are warts or not but I'd rather try to treat it on my own and give myself peace of mind than to deal with a possible diagnosis I don't want to here, prescriptions and more stress at the Dr. etc.
I'm having a tough time not obsessing over this and it's affecting my daily routine as in I'm more focused on worrying than doing regular daily things. I'm distracted at work, don't want to eat, don't want to go to the gym. I just want to attack myself with a mirror and hope when I look something will have changed for the better! Thoughts, advice, suggestions, encouragement, similar stories... responses welcome please and thanks!
Stressing tremendously,
Worry Wart!
But before I even knew I had hpv, I noticed a bump just like you have. I scratched it until it came off. (wasnt easy) Next I knew, it had grown back and another one popped up close by. So I went to see a doctor.
The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor. Be brave :)
I am relieved to know that I DO NOT have GW. None of the spots that I have been repeatedly been concerned about are warts. My doctor advised me stop putting things "down there" like tea tree oil and ACV and whatever else not and to stop stretching the skin and irritating by looking for things in the mirror! There are so many glands and normal things that happen in that area and many things are normal. Whew!
I will still however always have a paranoia over this when I see or feel a bump! I'm a bit OCD about these things. It's hard being single and dating in this world today and being careful only does so much for certain things! I feel for those actively dealing with this. Even though it's not the end of the world and you can lead a normal life we all process and deal with things differently.
Truthfully, In my honest opinion, I think a "pesky" skin condition like warts in the nether regions is so taboo and ridiculously blown out of proportion in the US because of it's STD label. I have friends in other countries that do not obsess over GW or put a stigma on themselves or people who have it! Our culture has an unfortunate way of ridiculing and passing judgement on the most trivial things!