Please Help : genital warts

[Crispszombie]

This is rather embarrassing but I really need some advice about genital warts please.

Background info:

My last smear test was in April. It came back fine.

I had a general sexual health check up in May when I went to change my pill. Again. No problems detected. At the time I had a full sweep of STI checks.

I since had some tummy issues (pelvic floor pain) and had an internal ultra sound in July. Again. No problems.

My last sexual contact was 5 weeks ago. With a partner I had been seeing for a while. We had the talk before any sexual contact and he indicated no previous issues/ potential. Full disclosure we weren’t always as careful as what we should have been. But I envisioned a long term, exclusive partnership. (Silly me).

But In the last month to 6 weeks things just haven’t been quite right.

Week One: intense tingling, itching, burning and then relentless itching. That lasted a week or so. Discharge was thicker; white. I assumed yeast infection.

Week Two: still uncomfortable but I had my period. Couldn’t see any different discharge so figured I’d have to wait.

Week Three: the odd itch. No more white thick discharge.

Week Four: Relentless itch is back. So is discharge. But this time it’s mostly clear. I feel damp very often. Even with thorough wiping etc. and I’ve noticed a slight odour. Fishy. But it’s not overt. Im not sure if it’s in my head..

Noticed a small pimple right on where the outer labia meets the labia. So on the hair line. I do sometimes shave so presumed possibly and in grown hair. But thought I’d grab a mirror and have a look.

This is where it gets worrisome. I saw the spot. It had a white head but didn’t look like a pimple. So checked the rest of my vagina. Only to find that the opening to my vagina is riddled with lumps and bumps. You would only notice if you pulled all the skin back and held both sides open.

If I touch them then I can certainly feel them. They are Lumpy and hard. And pretty much everywhere. Some
are isolated and Others are all joined at the base. They’re growing in ridged lines (not unlike mountain ranges) all around the opening to my vagina. Basically ringfencing the hole. (Sorry there is no other way to describe it)

I’ve never really looked at my vagina (or even seen what the inside of my vagina looks like, so I can’t be sure if this is normal for me). I’ve always noticed a few lumps and bumps that grow in a line, so have assumed that maybe this was scarring from when I birthed my children? But these feel more raised and pronounced.


I’m in Tamworth, a midlands town. I called my local sexual health clinic. They aren’t seeing anyone in person due to Covid (despite the website saying otherwise). They really didn’t seem bothered. The nurse I spoke to suggested I order a sexual health test online, that hopefully is on its way to being posted to me.

But I’ve spent the last week or so googling to try to compare and self diagnose what I have. It’s really difficult as there just aren’t enough pictures online.

But it would seem it could be HpV genital warts. By all accounts, the test that is being posted to me won’t test for these. I’ve read a lot of info that the warts are caused by skin to skin contact, they’re contagious and can be caught even with the use of condoms. If they’re internal then They’re mostly not treatable other then by laser, burning and freezing which doesn’t treat the virus anyway but for most people they go away within two years. And by most accounts, if you have visible HPV then there is a chance that you won’t have the strain that causes cancerous cells. (None of which makes me feel better or at ease)

I’ve read so many websites. The majority say that the warts are harmless, painless, shouldn’t itch etc but I still have an incessant itch. And discharge. And the more I check the warts (now twice daily, the larger they seem... though this could be my imagination).

I spoke to my last partner. I asked him again if he has/has had any STIs or problems that he didn’t mention. I have told him I am getting myself checked and he should too. He was dismissive. Again; really, really kicking myself here.

I just don’t how long these possible warts have been here? Surely it would have been picked up at my last three check ups where a nurse/ultrasound technical looked at my vagina ? And if not; then he had to have noticed in one way or another?

I need words of wisdom please.

Can anyone Advise me on how to live with, reduce, treat, heal or remove the warts?

If Covid and lockdown means I can’t be examined by a nurse or doctor... what the hell do I do?

I’m frustrated, itchy, worried.

[MiniJellyBeans]

Hi Crisps, really sorry you've been so worried and that Covid is making access to the usual healthcare options difficult.
Just a few thoughts - it's not possible for anyone to reassure you about what the lumps are unless they see them (and many clinics, but not all, are temporarily closed for face-to-face consultations) but try googling "Fordyce spots" to see if you can see some images . It sounds as if this may be what you're describing at the entrance to the vagina - in which case they are harmless.
Also, when you have a home test kit to check for STIs, generally it will check for some causes of vaginal irritation/discharge, but not all. Typically, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and sometimes trichomonas will be checked, but the symptoms can have a non-STI cause, such as thrush or bacterial vaginosis. Maybe try looking up these two to see whether your symptoms fit (BV tends to cause a fishy odour). You can buy over-the-counter treatments for both of these conditions, so it might be worth a chat with your pharmacist, or your GP may agree to prescribe something if you have a telephone consultation. If you have vaginal irritation, it can be tempting to overwash your vaginal area with soap etc. but this can make it worse - better to use plain water or unperfumed products, and wear cotton underwear.
Feel free to message me if you would like more information.

[snackwarden]

@MiniJellyBeans

Hi Crisps, really sorry you've been so worried and that Covid is making access to the usual healthcare options difficult.
Just a few thoughts - it's not possible for anyone to reassure you about what the lumps are unless they see them (and many clinics, but not all, are temporarily closed for face-to-face consultations) but try googling "Fordyce spots" to see if you can see some images . It sounds as if this may be what you're describing at the entrance to the vagina - in which case they are harmless.
Also, when you have a home test kit to check for STIs, generally it will check for some causes of vaginal irritation/discharge, but not all. Typically, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and sometimes trichomonas will be checked, but the symptoms can have a non-STI cause, such as thrush or bacterial vaginosis. Maybe try looking up these two to see whether your symptoms fit (BV tends to cause a fishy odour). You can buy over-the-counter treatments for both of these conditions, so it might be worth a chat with your pharmacist, or your GP may agree to prescribe something if you have a telephone consultation. If you have vaginal irritation, it can be tempting to overwash your vaginal area with soap etc. but this can make it worse - better to use plain water or unperfumed products, and wear cotton underwear.
Feel free to message me if you would like more information.

Sorry I don't know how to PM you. But thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. It really is appreciated.

It's really hard getting access to any services. I think being in a smaller town doesn't help. But frustrated is certainly how I feel right now.

I've googled fordyce spots and some images look similar thought I'm still thinking genital warts looks more likely as the 'head' of my spots are sort of clumped together and flat on top but cabbage like?
This really does need a professional diagnosis.

Though the skin on my vulva and labia has started to really itch. (But is tingly/slightly burny) at the same time as is my anus. And On inspection tonight , I've noticed two skin tone cabbage like spots.. which I can't notice if I feel them but can certainly see them.

It's Really all fingers crossed that whatever I have is treatable and can Be cleared up soon.

I will bear your advice in mind. I've been washing twice daily in a bid to keep clean.. hasn't realised that may not be helping.

[PucePanther]

If that is what you’ve got, it’s not dangerous having them untreated until you can get an appointment. They’re unsightly and contagious but not dangerous. The doctor can freeze them off with liquid nitrogen spray. You will still be contagious for an unspecified period of time after the visible warts have been removed. Some people have transmitted them to a new partner 20 years after having visible warts removed.

[snackwarden]

20 years! Holy hell!!!

[PucePanther]

80% of people catch HPV at some point. It may or may not cause visible warts. In some cases the body clears the infection within a year or two. In other cases it’s a lifelong infection, you don’t always have visible warts but you do carry the virus and can transmit it to someone who might get visible warts. Keep on top of your smear tests etc because HPV can lead to cancer.

[MiniJellyBeans]

Re. the comment above about keeping on top of smears - good advice for everyone whether or not they have any visible warts, but the OP mentioned she had had a smear in April, which would have been tested for high risk HPV and was negative, so that provides some reassurance. There are over 100 different types/strains of HPV. The types of HPV which cause external warts are not the same as the high risk types, and people who have external warts don't need more frequent smears.