About Lyndsay Mercier Expertise I can answer mostly any question regarding STD transmission, symptoms, and outlook.
Experience I am currently trained and certified in Sexuality Peer Education and teach an STI course at Northern Michigan University.
Organizations I am the President of a student organization known as VOX:Voices for Planned Parenthood, which is an organization focused on sexual health and reproductive freedom.
Publications I have written an article regarding teen pregnancy for www.Teenwire.com, which is due to be published on June 24th.
Education/Credentials I am currently pursuing my BS in Psychology with a double minor of Sociology and Gender Studies.
Expert: Lyndsay Mercier Date: 6/18/2008 Subject: A possible STD?
Question QUESTION: My boyfriend says he has little white dots NOT bumps on the base of his penis and under it all on the right side and hes nervous cuz he doesnt know what it is. It mildly itches but, thers no burning or nothing else. Is an STD possible?
ANSWER: Andrea,
I believe that genital warts (HPV) can appear as "dots", and not always bumps. Sometimes they are so tiny you can only see them with a magnifying glass. Has he always had these dots, or did they just show up one day? If they've been there all his life, its probably just a skin variation. Skin on the genitals is the same as skin anywhere else on the body; it has imperfections.
I would suggest that he goes to a doctor just to be on the safe side. And in the meantime, always remember to use a condom to be sure that you don't catch anything that he might have already.
Until then, good luck, and I hope its nothing serious.
Lyndsay
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QUESTION: He got them 2 weekends ago and he is just now tellin me this. It probably is HPV. Is HPV sexually transmitted?
Answer Andrea,
Yes, HPV is sexually transmitted. You get it from skin to skin contact with someone who already has it. You can treat HPV by getting the warts removed, BUT the virus remains in your system for life.
I can't say for sure that is what he might have, but if he does, then you need to be checked for it as well because some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, not to mention genital warts.
If he has it, and you still don't, then I suggest you look into the HPV vaccine that is now available that prevents you from getting the 2 most common strains that cause cancer, and the 2 most common strains that cause warts. Even if he doesn't have it, it wouldn't hurt to get the vaccine anyway.
