Anal bumps/warts around the anus

Hi everyone, I find myself facing a bit of a dilemma and I was hoping to tap into the collective wisdom here. Before I dive into the specifics, I should probably mention right off the bat that I am gay. My boyfriend and I have been together for about two years now, and we are both perfectly healthy, though we have been practicing unprotected sex up to this point. Recently, I noticed some tiny, small bumps appearing around my anal area. I’ve been doing a little light reading online, and apparently, this can happen when you aren't using protection; the sites suggest it's generally harmless and quite easy to treat if you catch it. That said, I would truly value the perspective of someone who actually knows what they're talking about regarding what this might be and, more importantly, how I can get rid of it. 😕 To be clear, there isn't any itching or pain or anything like that—it's just something I really want gone. Now, the internet is full of advice telling me to just go see my primary care physician, but since my doctor is incredibly old-school and my aunt is... well, let's just say she has some very strong, rather uncomfortable homophobic views, she is absolutely the last person on Earth I would ever visit for this. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this discreetly? Is there perhaps something available at a local CVS or Walgreens that I could just pick up and apply myself to make this disappear? 😕 I would be so incredibly grateful for any help or guidance you all might offer! Thanks so much in advance!

What if you just decided to seek out a second opinion from another doctor?
I mean, it might be worth looking through the responses on this thread.

Maybe you'll find yourself in some of these stories.

It is highly probable that you have contracted low-risk HPV.

You really ought to schedule a clinical screening. Please be advised that any form of treatment—whether it involves cryotherapy or topical applications like Condylox—must be administered exclusively by a licensed medical professional.

I’m inclined to agree with nimblemaker52; it’s almost certainly an HPV situation, so they really ought to go see a doctor.

steeljackal6 said:Hey everyone, I've got a bit of a situation here. First off, full disclosure: I'm gay. I've been with my boyfriend for two years, we're both healthy, and so far we've been practicing unprotected sex. But just recently, I noticed these tiny little bumps appearing around my anus. I did some digging online and read that this can happen from unprotected encounters, that it's generally harmless, and that it can be removed. I'm really looking for an expert opinion on what exactly this is and how I can get rid of it. 😕 It doesn't itch or hurt or anything; I just want them gone. Also, the internet keeps saying I should talk to my doctor, but since my GP is super conservative and my aunt is a total homophobe, she’s definitely the last person I’m going to visit. Can anyone help me out? Is there anything over-the-counter at a CVS or Walgreens that I could just rub on there to make it go away? 😕 Please help, and thanks in advance!

Look, it's most likely HPV. You need to see a dermatologist or a specialist in sexual health. Go get checked out by one of them so they can prescribe actual treatment. Warts can be dealt with through minor procedures at the clinic, or you can use specific creams, but again, a pro needs to look at it first before you start slathering stuff on. As for the whole thing with your aunt being your doctor... yeah, you'll have to figure that part out on your own. If you've got the cash, just skip the referral and book a private appointment with a dermatologist.

Thanks so much, everyone. So, I guess I really do need to go see my doctor after all, don't I? Oh boy, I am feeling quite a bit under the weather right now 😲
. Does anyone happen to know what might actually cause this kind of thing? I mean, both my boyfriend and I are perfectly healthy people, and nothing like this has ever happened to me before, so I can't help but wonder how it just suddenly appeared out of nowhere like this??

I’m sorry, but where exactly are you getting this "he and I are both healthy" idea from? Did you BOTH actually get tested for various STIs BEFORE you started having sex? Since you aren't using protection anyway—and honestly, you really should, especially considering the risks involved when pregnancy isn't the only concern, given that things aren't exactly sterile down there... I highly doubt you have
You have no idea how many bacteria and viruses can exist during certain stages without showing any symptoms at all; you can't just assume someone is healthy just by looking at them. We women go in for checkups once a year if everything seems fine, but those who are more proactive go in for swabs too—and they are often shocked by their results, even when they haven't experienced a single symptom.

Honestly, I’ve read so many posts on this forum lately where people insist they can’t see a doctor because "it’s my mom, my dad, a close family friend, my cousin, an aunt, or just the neighbor next door"—usually when dealing with mental health issues or STIs—that I’m half-tempted to propose some kind of new regulation stating you aren't allowed to see anyone you've ever met before in your life. Just to be safe.

For those of you who need a little more guidance, I'll let you in on a massive secret: there are actually other doctors out there!

steeljackal6 said:thanks guys. so i guess i actually have to see a doctor after all. ugh, this sucks so bad.😲
can anyone tell me how you even catch this thing? like, both my boyfriend and i are perfectly healthy, nothing like this has ever happened before, so how does it just pop up out of nowhere??

Yeah, if it's HPV (which it almost certainly is), you need to go see a dermatologist or a specialist. How you get there or what route you take is on you. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be too picky about which doctor I saw. How do you get it? Through sexual contact. And don't give me that "we're both healthy" line—HPV can stay totally asymptomatic for ages. It doesn't mean everyone who tests positive for HPV is going to develop warts (condylomas) immediately. There are different strains, and depending on the strain, they vary in how they latch onto skin or mucous membranes to cause issues.

It looks like I’m eventually going to have to make an appointment with the doctor 😢 because, honestly, I’m feeling pretty low about the whole thing—really quite down. Once I walk through those clinic doors, they’re probably going to pick up on the fact that I'm gay right away, and if I'm being completely honest, the thought of that makes me feel a little lightheaded. But, well, I suppose what will be, will be. I had been holding out hope that there might be some sort of over-the-counter remedy I could just grab at a CVS to avoid the whole ordeal... thank you all so much for your replies, but could you just tell me one more thing, is this actually dangerous? I mean, regarding these nipples...

steeljackal6 said:looks like I’m gonna have to face the doctor after all 😢 honestly, I'm feeling pretty crappy about it. the second I walk into that clinic, they're gonna know I'm gay, and frankly, that thought makes me feel sick to my stomach. but whatever, it is what it is. I was hoping there might be some over-the-counter stuff at a CVS or something to bypass this whole thing... thanks for the help, everyone, but can you just tell me straight—is this dangerous? I mean, these warts...

Yeah, because if we're talking HPV and the warts caused by it, they'll probably just keep growing. That could turn into a massive issue, both for how things look and how things actually function. 🙂

Oh boy, I have to admit, I’m feeling a little bit of a nervous flutter in my chest right now 😢 because I was scrolling through some forums online and read that this isn't something you can ever truly be cured of. It really gave me pause! So, if I don't mind asking just one more quick question—if I were to head into a doctor's office, would they be able to tell just by looking at me or running tests that I'm gay, or is it possible for straight men to deal with this too?

steeljackal6 said:Oh boy, I’m actually getting a little nervous here 😢—I was reading online that this isn't something you can ever fully cure. Just one more thing, though: if I go to the doctor, is it going to be obvious that I'm gay, or could straight guys deal with this too?

In theory, even straight men can get this—though in practice, it’s quite rare.
But honestly, don't let that weigh on you at all... you won't be the first or the last person walking into that dermatologist's office with anal warts—and trust me, they aren't going to be preoccupied with your sexual orientation.
It's just a medical issue that needs to be handled, plain and simple.🤷

Maybe try to charm your way into getting a referral (for instance, tell her you have some growths on your penis—I highly doubt she'll want to take a close look herself!) and make sure they transfer your file right away. 🙂

It just occurred to me that I should probably give my doctor a call and see if I can just request a referral; after all, since I’m currently working quite a distance from home, it would be much more convenient to handle it this way. Could you perhaps clarify for me exactly what specific terminology I should be looking for—is it a referral for...?

Checking in with the dermatologist