QUESTION
I went to the doctor recently and found out that I have HPV. During my visit the doctor snickered and gave me a referral to another doctor who cut them out of my groin area and on my penis. The receptionist also laughed at me. Since then, the warts have grown back and now are surfacing outside my rectum. Can you please give me some advice on how to get rid of them without going through the scrutiny at the doctor's office again?

ANSWER
It’s never okay for a medical provider to laugh at a patient’s situation or make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed. I suggest you contact the provider and explain what you observed and felt and make clear that it is not acceptable. If his office is part of an HMO, there most likely is a formal complaint procedure which you can take advantage of if you so choose. Click here for a declaration of gay men's rights, so you can be informed and make a good decision about how to follow through with your complaint.

As for the warts, there won’t be any way to get rid of them without seeing another medical provider. You might want to check you local community health organizations for physicians that are better prepared to handle HPV. Visit the City Clinic website to find out about San Francisco services, or the CDC clinic locator to find a clinic near you.

To your health,
Dr. K