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Genital Wart Transmission
Hi there. I was very recently diagnosed with HPV that causes genital warts. I am taking treatments and they are working great, the 3 warts I had are gone. The doctor that I went to told me not to worry about infecting other people because everyone has been exposed to it and/or has it. Also the information paperwork said not to even worry about telling anyone about it. I have been seeing someone and am terrified of passing it on to them. Should I be worried or do I believe the information I was given? Please help!
I would have to agree with vandykd3 on this, isn't it better to be safe and protect the person you care about? Waiting a minimum of 3 months isn't really that much to ask... you would be surprised how open people are. I was with my current partner when diagnosed, although we were not engaging in sex. I told him about the diagnosis, certain he would no longer want to be with me. This was not the case and he said that waiting 6+ months would be worth it for me. I think honesty is the best way to go, at least for several months. I think you should either be open with your partner, or just hold off on sex for several months.
Hello, just wanted to weigh in on this post, as with all due respect I have an opinion on this topic as well.
I feel I have to disagree with the doctors on this one as I feel that perspective is a bit to forgiving. Sure, HPV is more or less an inevitability, and supposedly we all get it at least once at some point in our lives, but I don't think that allows for us to go around exposing people to a potential two or more years of mentally trying times just because of that fact. I don't think it's too much to ask to encourage people who know that they are in the process of clearing the virus to wait a minimum of three months to six months before engaging in "don't tell" sexual encounters. After all, how would we feel if that person happened to be infected as well and they didn't say anything and now we have a second round of warts of a different strain. Or worse, what if you ended up getting cervical cancer some day from that dude because his doctor told him it's okay to be mum about it.
I agree HPV isn't the end of the world and for the vast majority of people out there the health risk is nil or nearly so. But I think we can all attest to the fact that it is a serious inconvenience at best and a mentally crippling two plus year life changing obstacle at worst. How can we take the decision to go through that away from an unsuspecting lover without informing them of the possible repercussions?
I think that it's entirely possible to have sex safely with HPV. I think you shouldn't rub your erection all over her vagina, or play just the tip. If you commence foreplay safely, just hands and mouth if you feel safe about oral and refrain from bumping down there until the condom goes on then I'd be down to go for it. I think the chances are reduced to quite close to zero in my opinion. If a lover accented to that, or if she had HPV, I think I'd be okay with that.
THat's my take. Obviously I'm not disagreeing with you mimi because that is what you recommended. And Theresa, you were seeking feedback on your doctors advice. I think the doctors forget that we don't see this every day and to us it's a much bigger deal than to them. For me, I find it very very difficult to tell people I have wart causing HPV so I haven't had sex in five months. I would have by now if I didn't have to go back to the derm recently. But also I haven't met anyone that I really must have so I'm okay passing on one night stands and/or short term hook-ups. Not only that, this HPV thing has changed my priorities away from that behavior but that is simply my story and not any one elses. No preaching here on that angle.
All in all, I think it's wise to either own up to it until you are a minimum of three months out and definitely after six you are good to go. But until then, either abstain or give them the choice.
Thanks for reading my long winded post. Any opinions are much appreciated. I would love to hear how others feel. Am I to hard line?
I feel I have to disagree with the doctors on this one as I feel that perspective is a bit to forgiving. Sure, HPV is more or less an inevitability, and supposedly we all get it at least once at some point in our lives, but I don't think that allows for us to go around exposing people to a potential two or more years of mentally trying times just because of that fact. I don't think it's too much to ask to encourage people who know that they are in the process of clearing the virus to wait a minimum of three months to six months before engaging in "don't tell" sexual encounters. After all, how would we feel if that person happened to be infected as well and they didn't say anything and now we have a second round of warts of a different strain. Or worse, what if you ended up getting cervical cancer some day from that dude because his doctor told him it's okay to be mum about it.
I agree HPV isn't the end of the world and for the vast majority of people out there the health risk is nil or nearly so. But I think we can all attest to the fact that it is a serious inconvenience at best and a mentally crippling two plus year life changing obstacle at worst. How can we take the decision to go through that away from an unsuspecting lover without informing them of the possible repercussions?
I think that it's entirely possible to have sex safely with HPV. I think you shouldn't rub your erection all over her vagina, or play just the tip. If you commence foreplay safely, just hands and mouth if you feel safe about oral and refrain from bumping down there until the condom goes on then I'd be down to go for it. I think the chances are reduced to quite close to zero in my opinion. If a lover accented to that, or if she had HPV, I think I'd be okay with that.
THat's my take. Obviously I'm not disagreeing with you mimi because that is what you recommended. And Theresa, you were seeking feedback on your doctors advice. I think the doctors forget that we don't see this every day and to us it's a much bigger deal than to them. For me, I find it very very difficult to tell people I have wart causing HPV so I haven't had sex in five months. I would have by now if I didn't have to go back to the derm recently. But also I haven't met anyone that I really must have so I'm okay passing on one night stands and/or short term hook-ups. Not only that, this HPV thing has changed my priorities away from that behavior but that is simply my story and not any one elses. No preaching here on that angle.
All in all, I think it's wise to either own up to it until you are a minimum of three months out and definitely after six you are good to go. But until then, either abstain or give them the choice.
Thanks for reading my long winded post. Any opinions are much appreciated. I would love to hear how others feel. Am I to hard line?
Hey, I am in the same boat as you. I was given the same information as well. All my doctors told me this is no big deal, everyone have it and even if you pass it on to your male partner it is no big deal. My doctors also told me not to inform any future partners.
If I were you, I would probably wait a while because most of the HPV infections clears up within a year and wart causing strains clears faster ( as fast as 6 months). Most experts said if you are clear of warts 3-6 months, you can most definitely be sure you are no longer infected and you are not contagious. So if it makes you feel better, try waiting the three months. If you are at a point where it is right to get intimate (before the 3 months time), then I say just be safe and do what you gotta do. Unless you want to tell him, which I don't think you would want to anyway ( if this is a new guy). Just know that if you do infect him and IF he even gets warts ( cuz not everyone shows and if he has had several partners in the past, he probably already had it anyway), are you going to tell him about your infection or are you gonna play dumb? I think that is probably something you have to consider. Anyways, Good luck to you.
If I were you, I would probably wait a while because most of the HPV infections clears up within a year and wart causing strains clears faster ( as fast as 6 months). Most experts said if you are clear of warts 3-6 months, you can most definitely be sure you are no longer infected and you are not contagious. So if it makes you feel better, try waiting the three months. If you are at a point where it is right to get intimate (before the 3 months time), then I say just be safe and do what you gotta do. Unless you want to tell him, which I don't think you would want to anyway ( if this is a new guy). Just know that if you do infect him and IF he even gets warts ( cuz not everyone shows and if he has had several partners in the past, he probably already had it anyway), are you going to tell him about your infection or are you gonna play dumb? I think that is probably something you have to consider. Anyways, Good luck to you.
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