hpv and fingers

I have just been diagnosed with a high risk HPV strain (but not one of the top five) on my fingers. Over the many months that I think I have had this it doesn't seem to have spread to anywhere in the genital area. Can I take this to mean that my chances of transferring it to others through casual contact are low?  

I confess that I did touch my partner (not the source of the infection) a couple of times sexually with these fingers - I didn't realise at that stage that HPV could be on the hand and so didn't realise I was putting her at risk. Can I reasonably hope that I haven't passed the infection to her, that the DNA on the fingers might be too weak to transmit the virus?

Can I also assume or at least hope that there is little chance of passing it to my children? I have held their hands and touched their heads and  faces at different times over the last few months. Does this mean I should have them checked for HPV?  (they are still far too young for pap tests).

Am I likely to have a significant risk of oral cancer?  (it is not HPV 16)

Can I really hope that this will pass over in the course of two years or even less?

When I was diagnosed earlier today I felt devastated and suicidal. I have begin to feel a bit better after reading Dr Handsfield's FAQs. Any views welcome.

[Ladrhiana]

I've had hpv for 16 years and it's been very complicated for me.... I'm Quite sure it's dna is probably all over both my hands by now! I have two children and I haven't given it to them through and passive digital contact. Just keep the infected finger out of any warm moist places (including your own). I have seen pictures on the web of oral hpv, hpv in the eyes, and places you wouldn't believe. The statistics on hpv grow daily. I was just on another website that says "if you are sexually active, you have a 75-90% chance of contracting it sometime in your life" DON'T PANIC! Consult your physician and the children's pediatrician. Put it out there to them and get in on the table ASAP so everybody knows what they're dealing with and what to be on the look for. Honesty is always the best policy!

[andy950]

Thanks for your reply. I am so sorry that you've had it for 16 years! They assured me it would be gone within two years. I don't really want to tell anyone, I'm so ashamed, I've been thinking seriously about suicide because I've let my wife and family down in the worst way possible. I'm just hoping that because I haven't passed it to myself in any other obvious place in six months, it might be too weak on the fingers to transfer the virus. My impression is that it's easier to catch n the fingers than to pass to somebody from the fingers. As for oral etc - I was told that this strain can only do anogenital cancers, so that's something at least..