Big Dilema

Dr,

I

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I can only help with medical facts; your main issue is a relationship problem, not my expertise.  I will just say that you behaved responsibly to the best of your ability.  If your partner cares about you, she should understand.  How you inform her is entirely up to you.  You might consider posting your question to Dr. Schwartz on the sexuality and relationships forum.

From a medical perspective, indeed your partner should be examined.  But you don't know whether you have infected your partner, or will.  Perhaps most important, remember that genital warts are by and large an inconvenience, not a serious health threat.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[worriedmansick]

Thanks Doc,

I guess if she can't except me for it, then I might not be with the right person, correct?  Also, just out of curiosity is it VERY RARE that they can be passed on to babies and is it only in the throat or genitals as well?  Thank You

[Englishman]

I'm not sure whether I am reading your post correctly, but you waited 6 months, had sex and now you have discovered a new wart. How long was the gap between when you first had sex with your girlfriend and the new wart showing up? If it is longer than a couple of months, there is a chance that she infected you with a new strain and she is an asymptomatic carrier. Although this is less likely than it beng a recurrence, there is no way to know for sure. Therefore there is an arugment for saying that "I have discovered a wart and you need to get checked out too" without disclosing that you maybe the source (since she may also be the source too).

P.S. I am not a doctor and this is only my understanding based on what I have read here and elsewhere.

[worriedmansick]

Dr.,

Would you agree with englishman?  Can you answer my other posted question from the other day, thx.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Transmission of warts to babies is rare and only occurs if the mom warts (usually very extensive ones) when the baby is delivered.  It's not a worry.

Englishman has it right.  When HPV or warts appear in a couple, it is almost never worth the effort to try to figure out who infected whom and when.  Almost everybody gets genital HPV somewhere along the line, and such efforts generally are a waste of time and emotional energy.  This business is not nearly as big a deal as you are making it.

I won't have any further comments.