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Genital HPV
My girlfriend has informed me that she had an outbreak of genital HPV. She fears vaginal sex (protected by a condom of course) because of fear of trasmission of HPV to me.
1. From what I gather from previous forum posts, transmission of this strain of HPV is virtuall nil (Assuming I dint already have had it... I'm a 31 yo male) due to her immune system clearing the virus. Is this correct?
2. Assuming she could still transmitt this to me, Gardasil inoculation for me l would likey prevent infection. Correct?
3. I am older than the recommend age for Gardasil. Given circumstances that I need to pursuade a healthcare provider to provider to treat me, is there any restrictions concerning age and administration of this vaccine?
Do you have specific medical references that she can read to possibly put her mid to rest?
Thank you
1. From what I gather from previous forum posts, transmission of this strain of HPV is virtuall nil (Assuming I dint already have had it... I'm a 31 yo male) due to her immune system clearing the virus. Is this correct?
2. Assuming she could still transmitt this to me, Gardasil inoculation for me l would likey prevent infection. Correct?
3. I am older than the recommend age for Gardasil. Given circumstances that I need to pursuade a healthcare provider to provider to treat me, is there any restrictions concerning age and administration of this vaccine?
Do you have specific medical references that she can read to possibly put her mid to rest?
Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
Your girlfriend is overreacting. She's not alone; these days there's a lot of confusion, and inappropriately inflated fears, about genital HPV. The fact is that everybody gets genital HPV, often several times; it's a normal, expected, and largely unavoidable aspect of human sexuality. Fortunately, the large majority of infections cause no symptoms, clear up over time, and are not serious. I encourage you and her to look at the following threads for a more detailed discussion of these and other truths about genital HPV.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-Transmission/show/1522088
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-without-sex/show/1799277
To your specific questions:
1) Yes, this is correct. Her HPV infection probably cleared up long ago and it is unlikely she could transmit it to you at this time, 6 years after her diagnosis.
2) Gardasil would protect you if she is currently carrying one of the HPV types covered by the vaccine. However, it isn't a guarantee; Gardasil protects against the 4 most important HPV types, but not against the 100+ other strains that exist. Also, the vaccine isn't fully protective until after the third dose, at 6 months (although there may be subsantial protection after the second dose at 2 months).
3) The vaccine is effective at any age; it's not recommended beyond age 26 primarily because it hasn't been much studied in such persons, and because new HPV infections are not common after that age. Because of the official recommendations, health insurance may not cover it -- but if cost isn't an issue, there is no reason you could not be vaccinated.
Your partner has a skewed perception of HPV. There are many sources for more information; she could start with information provided by CDC (www.cdc.gov/std) and the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org).
Best wishes in your relationship, and in helping your partner understand the truths about HPV. It really shouldn't be such a big deal for her!
Regards-- HHH, MD
Your girlfriend is overreacting. She's not alone; these days there's a lot of confusion, and inappropriately inflated fears, about genital HPV. The fact is that everybody gets genital HPV, often several times; it's a normal, expected, and largely unavoidable aspect of human sexuality. Fortunately, the large majority of infections cause no symptoms, clear up over time, and are not serious. I encourage you and her to look at the following threads for a more detailed discussion of these and other truths about genital HPV.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-Transmission/show/1522088
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-without-sex/show/1799277
To your specific questions:
1) Yes, this is correct. Her HPV infection probably cleared up long ago and it is unlikely she could transmit it to you at this time, 6 years after her diagnosis.
2) Gardasil would protect you if she is currently carrying one of the HPV types covered by the vaccine. However, it isn't a guarantee; Gardasil protects against the 4 most important HPV types, but not against the 100+ other strains that exist. Also, the vaccine isn't fully protective until after the third dose, at 6 months (although there may be subsantial protection after the second dose at 2 months).
3) The vaccine is effective at any age; it's not recommended beyond age 26 primarily because it hasn't been much studied in such persons, and because new HPV infections are not common after that age. Because of the official recommendations, health insurance may not cover it -- but if cost isn't an issue, there is no reason you could not be vaccinated.
Your partner has a skewed perception of HPV. There are many sources for more information; she could start with information provided by CDC (www.cdc.gov/std) and the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org).
Best wishes in your relationship, and in helping your partner understand the truths about HPV. It really shouldn't be such a big deal for her!
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Conceivable, if she had a new sexual partnership in the interim, especially in the 6-12 months before the new warts became apparent. But there's really no way to know with cetainty.
Perhaps it was a new infection?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It's uncommon for genital warts to reappear after such a long period, although not unheard of. I hope her latest episode was professionally diagnosed. In any case, if the warts were treated and have cleared up, it is unlikely she is currently infectious.
Warts in both cases.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
What kind(s) of outbreak? Warts? Abnormal pap smear?
Thank you very much Dr. Handsfield. She just informed me that she had another outbreak last year. So, two HPV events 5 years apart. I guessing this is a case of a rare re-occurrence after the initial infection or new infection from another source. I'll be sure and have her read your comments here. Thanks again.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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