HPV transmission

So, here's my story - I married a virgin.  I had been with 4 previous partners.  I never showed any signs of any STDs.  My last partner was in 1999, and my spouse and I had sex for the first time in 2001.  Beginning in Feb 2000, we performed other activities that certainly could have been enough to spread an STD.  In 2006, my spouse developed genital warts that were treated with some kind of cream.  Neither of us has had sex outside of our marriage.  How could this have happenned?  Could I have carried HPV latently, and could my spouse have contracted it and only developed symptoms years later?  Since the episode in 2006, neither of us have had any symptoms.

[adgirl40]

I should add that I did have a skin tag on my perineum for about a year in 2003/2004 that was removed surgically.

[empathy60]

I wouldn't rely on the non-sexual contact theory considering HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and I've never read any properly medically documented cases where HPV has been spread this way.  Considering you had sexual contact before you were married and had a skin tag (which may very well have been a genital wart, genital warts often look like skin tags) and your partner developed warts only a few years after you were married, it is very likely that you may have spread HPV to your partner (or vice versa if your partner had the types of sexual contact with other partners before you outside of intercourse that spread HPV- frottage, etc).  HPV stays dormant in the system for years in some people, which is probably what happened in both of you after you contracted it.  Some people don't even ever show warts while infected with low risk HPV.  Either way, since you both haven't had warts in so long I'd say there's no reason to worry.  I'd read more in the expert forums about HPV, you'll learn a lot.

[ibizan]

your well read well researched and medically backed up statements are very much appreciated in this forum!

[cocobean32]

You are saying that HPV can lay dormant in your body for years before it's detected?? So what about the 6-24 month rule? I am still just confused about this!

[empathy60]

I guess I should've been more clear about sexually transmitted HPV.  There are roughly 100 different strains of HPV, 30 of which affect the genital region.  The other 70 or so cause non-sexual symptoms (think of warts on your feet, hands, etc.- common thing find in children) and don't typically affect your genitals.  On this board however, we typically discuss genital warts/abnormal paps/cervical dysplasia and not so much warts on our fingers or toes (you can't transmit these sexually).  So yes, types of HPV can be transmitted non-sexually, but it isn't feasible that genital warts or an abnormal pap smear would be caused by the same HPV that causes a finger/toe wart.  Warts on your fingers/toes are not venereal warts, whereas warts on your genitals are venereal warts.  If your doctor has diagnosed you as having genital warts or you've tested positive for HPV and you're sexually active, you can assume you got this HPV from sexual activity.  When you're plugging information about non-sexually transmitted HPV in google they are probably discussing the other 70 strains that don't usually affect the genital region.  I hope this has clarified some things for the board.

[wondering12]

I have been with my boyfriend for 2 1/2 years and about 1 year ago I went for my gyno visit and they discovered I to had HPV, I had been tested prior to us dating and it was negative however the doctor explained that I could have been carrying it in my body for years and it just now developed or vice versa.  He could have been carrying it for years and then transmitted it to me....HPV is very common and un-detectable in males.

I have been treated for the HPV with the gardisil injection and also by having 2 groups of white cells removed from my cervix.  I just went for my annual exam a few weeks ago and I am HPV free for now....this is always a good sign however, one you have HPV it is always in your system and can come out at certain times (stress can make this happen, unhealthy lifestyle, etc).....

[JERNAB]

I stumbled onto this site and I really just need some answers. My fiance' and I are trying to concieve (conceive) and its really just not happening for us. I have HPV but I have no warts no symptoms and only sometimes does it show up in my pap tests which I have done at least every 6 months. So really I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to up our chances of conception, I was told by a former physician of mine that HPV can make it difficult or even impossible to concieve (conceive). However my most recent physician was confident that my HPV should not affect my fertility. According to her I should be able to concieve (conceive) and give birth normally. Then my question is after nearly 8 months of trying, counting days, taking temps, elevating hips with pillows etc. are we still not pregnant? Any ideas?

[ibizan]

Maybe u r trying too hard?it has become a mission and no doubt both very tense...i've read that in order for conception 2 occur both egg/sperm need to meet under a very warm body temp....and when folks r tense/anxious they restrict the flow of blood thruout the body..lowering the body temp!

[mayflowers]

If HPV made it impossible to conceive, there would be no people b/c 90% of the adult sexually active population has hpv!  I've personally known lots of women with hpv who get pregnant & have vaginal deliveries.  You'll be fine.  Re-read ibizan's post about the anxiousness.  Relax!