HPV Oral Sex & Genital Contact

[heather2088]

I was diagnosed with high risk HPV and a genital wart in 2004. Following a LEEP procedure and Aldara in 2004, I have been symptom free to date. I understand that my virus is most likely dormant. My partner and I have not had vaginal sex...but brief genital contact(tip of penis did touch outside of vagina with mucosal secretions and oral sex (once).  Did I expose him to HPV? Could that have passed it on to him?

I would like for him to have the Garadsil vac before we have vaginal sex...whether it helps or not....It would be peace of mind that we did everything that we could to prevent spreading it.  I just hope that brief contact did not infect him.

HPV really took a toil on me emotionally(still does)...I truly appreciate a forum where I can ask a question.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You can call UAB and have him seem at the Personnel Helath Clinic by Dr.Schwebke or one of her co-workers.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I applaud your concern for your partner abut would urge you to try not to worry (easier said than done, I know).  This issue of HPV and dormancy is a controversial one, in part because of the differences which occur between the ability to detect HPV and the likelihood of transmission to others.  we get many questions about this and recently Dr. Handsfield summarized our perspective well.  I've pasted his comment in below:

"Many HPV biologists believe HPV DNA usually or always persists indefinitely.  However, even with the most sensitive tests available in research labs, the virus becomes undetectable, typically over several months to a year or two -- longer for the high-risk (cancer-associated) HPV types, shorter for low risk and wart-causing strains like HPV-6 and -11.  After that, it is uncommon for that particular infection to reactivate -- i.e. recurrent warts or newly abnormal pap smears are infrequent -- and subsequent transmission to sex partners is rare.  So for practical purposes, the infection is completely resolved and can be considered cured.  "Uncommon" doesn't mean these things never happen; they do, but infrequently.

So you can understand how some experts interpret these issues into conflicting messages:  "Most HPV infections are cured by treatment and/or the immune system" versus "HPV persists and is never really cured".  My own perspective is the first of these:  people should consider themselves cured when all signs of their HPV infection are gone and there is no recurrence within a few months."

In your case, your risk of transmission your infection to your partner is very, very low and not something I would worry about, in part because I do not think he is at risk and in part because even if he got HPV there is little likelihood of there being any adverse consequence from the infection.

As far as the HPV vaccine is concerned, I think it would be fine for him to get it.  It probably would not be a bad thing for you to do so either.  I think everyone should get it.

I hope these comments help.  EWH

[heather2088]

Dr. Hook,

Can you recommend a place in Birmingham that will vaccinate a 35 year old male? I have called health dept, several family practice docs...No luck.

[heather2088]

Dr. Hook,
I am having the hardest time finding someone to give the vaccination to my partner which is 34. I have called numerous docs, the health dept, etc...I feel my hands are tied and find still SO many people are uneducated on the hpv. I noticed your UAB affiliation...Is there anyone in Bham that may be give it. I just need to find a doc.  Please feel free to message me. Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Gla to help.  Take care. EWH

[heather2088]

EWH-  

Thank you. Personally, I have already received the full vaccine...post hpv diagnosis. I was getting it for peace of mind and truly feel everyone should be getting it(regardless of age)...It's unfortunate, that insurance will not pay for many. It was not cheap for me--BUT I would have spent a lot more to prevent getting hpv in the first place!  The vaccine came out within months of my diagnosis...And from what my records indicate, it probably would  have protected me from the strains of hpv that I most likely have.

It is difficult to find accurate (consistent) info on the subject in the first place. I guess so much is unknown, which blows my mind about something so very common.

I understand the best place for him to get the vaccine is a family practice office. My ob/gyn gave it to me.

I appreciate your time and value your opinion. Have a nice evening.