Worth the risk?

[waytogodave]

Here is my situation. I've been seeing this guy with a good head on his shoulders. He has just told me as of last night he had contracted genital warts on the base of his penile shaft back in 2010.

He had cryo done and treated with Imiquimod after in 2010, which took care of it, and same treatment again in 2011 for a recurrence in the very same spot treated along with Imiquimod. Last month he wasn't sure if he was getting another occurrence so he used the Imiquimod on the spot for a few days but nothing ever surfaced. Nothing else anomalous has happened since. At no time did he have a biopsy on his warts to identify the type (I'd speculate are likely type 6 or 11 since it has been small but visible warts but that's not always a certainty).

We have not done anything yet pants off (we already both have otherwise recent and clear tests except we both carry HSV1, but no shocker there.) I don't want to break things off with him since he's a really great guy and my understanding with HPV is eventually, in most people anyway, it will clear away after a couple of years, but is his likely a permanent deal with these recurrences? Today I voiced with my concern with my P.A. who explained as long as we use condoms we should likely be fine. I also started Gardisil today since I figured it couldn't hurt but I don't think it hits any type of true efficacy until the second dose.

Am I worrying over nothing? I know HPV hardly ever means any issues for a heterosexual man asides cosmetic but for a gay man we know it can be really damaging leading to cancers. I'd hate to end things with him over this like I'm just ending something because he once had a wart pop up on his hand or foot.

Thanks again and my eternal thanks to Grace, who has helped much in the past.

[waytogodave]

We have both had herpes testing, both of us are HSV1 positive and HSV2 negative. It's just the HPV thing that's the tricky part lol

[gracefromHHP]

I think you getting the gardasil shot series is a good thing for your health in general!  protection is best after the 2nd shot than just 1 but full protection isn't until after the 3rd. using condoms for sex until then is always a good idea in general - gives you both time to get to know each other and trust each other. have you both had herpes testing done too?

doesn't matter where his hpv caused obvious warts at this point. if he has persistent hpv ( which would more likely be of the more higher risk types than obvious warts 3 years later ), it's the entire anal /genital area in general.  

sounds like you already know your decision - good luck in your new relationship :)  

[waytogodave]

I had a feeling you'd say that. :-) Think the Gardasil should be enough protection along with condoms? Also how long until the vaccine has effectiveness in my system? The two spots are at the penile base where the condom may not always cover well. I just hope someday he'll be past the infection reoccurring altogether.

My thanks as always Grace.

[gracefromHHP]

we do leave a light on around here for ya to come back :)

is it likely that this is the first partner you've ever had who has had hpv? no it is not. it's very common and studies show that 1 out of every 3 of us has had hpv in the genital area at one time or another.  bottom line is - obvious warts are a cosmetic issue - no different at all from a wart on the hands or feet except of course location. just a lot easier to walk into your doctor's office to complain about a wart on your hand than it is to walk in and drop your pants to show a wart on your genital area.  I know I certainly have never stopped shaking hands because of a fear of a wart on my hands and I don't drag flip flops along to a hotel to shower in either.  Not sure if that info is helpful to you or not.

I know at my age, I'd much rather risk a wart on my genitals than I would pass up on a man who had his life together and treated me nice :)  

grace