When performing a genital assessment on a middle-aged man, the nurse notices multiple soft, moist, painless papules in the shape of cauliflower-like patches scattered across the shaft of the penis. What does this finding suggest?

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The lesions of genital warts are soft, pointed, moist, fleshy, painless papules that may be single or multiple in a cauliflower-like patch. They occur on the shaft of the penis, behind the corona, or around the anus, where they may grow into large grapelike clusters. Genital carcinoma begins as red, raised, warty growth or as an ulcer with watery discharge which almost always occur on the glans or inner lip of foreskin. Genital herpes (HSV-2 infection) appears as clusters of small vesicles with surrounding erythema which are often painful and erupt on the glans, foreskin, or anus. Syphilitic chancres begin within 2 to 4 weeks of infection as a small, solitary, silvery papule that erodes to a red, round or oval, superficial ulcer with a yellowish serous discharge. The symptoms this patient is experiencing are those of genital warts.

When Performing a Genital Assessment on a Middle-Aged Man, the Nurse