Molloscum Cantagiosum and monogamy

[worriedinlove]

Recently my boyfriend of a year had a ton of bumps and smaller lesions pop up on his genital area. We've both been completely faithful (I was diagnosed with HPV several months ago, but the warts went away on their own shortly thereafter, were present before we started dating, and this looks totally different), and neither of us frequents public pools, gyms, etc. He had MC when he was 15 (he's 25 now), and said it looks similar. He'll be getting an official diagnosis in the next day or two, but reading about MC, I'm worried that we'll be having to put our sex life completely on hold, perhaps for a long time. We're both very sexually driven, passionate people, and I'm basically just looking for some peace of mind one way or another; does anyone else have experience with a similar situation? How did you handle it? How did your relationship change? Thank you.

[worriedinlove]

I've read conflicting information about second infections which is why I was unsure about that - some material I came across said it was possible, some said it was unlikely (like chicken pox, although second infections ARE possible). And they are bumps and lesions, they've spread out in the last 24 hours, and are not the cauliflower-like appearance of the warts from the recent(ish) bout of hpv I had (all warts had disappeared several months ago), which makes me doubt that it's that, but either way he is going in to get checked out so we can have a formal diagnosis and proceed from there.

I trust him completely, I don't think he was unfaithful and I haven't been with anyone else so it's been perplexing, frustrating, and a little scary for both of us haha. Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.

[HowardH]

This is unusual. People are believed to be immune to second infections with MC, so he should definitely see a health professional for accurate diagnosis. Given your recent diagnosis of genital warts, it seems more likely he has warts as well, not molluscum.

Assuming your partner's diagnosis is confirmed as either MC or warts, I see no reason for you to stop having sex. Either one is infectious for weeks or months before visible lesions appear, so you have been repeatedly exposed already, or could be the source of his infection. Stopping sex now will not reduce the chance of either of you infecting the other.

And by the way, none of this necessarily means either of you has had other partners recently.

Bottom line, responding to your last question:  I see no reason that your relationship should change in any significant way.