Molluscum
Molluscum contagiosum is one of the least common infections. Molluscum can affect anyone, but is more common if you have HIV.
Molluscum is caused by a virus that affects the skin and the lining of the inside of the arse and cock.
Symptoms
A couple of weeks or up to six months after getting infected, pale-coloured, painless, soft, pearl-shaped growths the size of a freckle appear:
- on the skin
- inside the arse
- on the cock
- on the face.
How it is transmitted
Molluscum is passed on by touching the growths. This can happen during sex but molluscum can also be passed on through general touching, using other people’s towels or at swimming pools.
What can I do if I think I have molluscum?
You can go to a free and confidential NHS sexual health clinic. You can go to any, not just the nearest. Your local or family doctor (GP) might also test and treat for STIs – if not, they will refer you to a clinic. You can read more about clinics and find your nearest one here.
By law sexual health clinics cannot tell anyone about your visit. But if you are referred by your GP to a clinic they will send a letter to your doctor saying what tests and treatment you had; this will go on your GP records. If you don’t want this to happen it’s better to go straight to the clinic without involving your GP.
Treatment
Some doctors prefer to wait and see if the molluscum will clear up on its own after a few months. If they do decide to treat it:
- the growths can be frozen or scraped off by a doctor
- chemicals can be painted on
- a cream is sometimes used.
Treatment can take a lot of visits to the clinic, especially if you have a lot of growths.
Protect yourself and others
You can stop molluscum being passed on by:
- not having sex until your molluscum has been treated, if it’s on a part of your body people touch during sex
- not sharing towels and flannels if one of you has molluscum
- not scratching as this can spread the molluscum around your skin
- using an electric razor if you have molluscum on your face as wet shaving can spread them.
This article was last reviewed on: 21/10/11
Date due for next review: 21/10/13
