HPV Question

[silas10]

Hi Doctor,

Thanks for the opportunity of this forum.

I am a bit stressed about a recent incident. I was in a nightclub and this girl I kinda know came over to me messing about and she put her hand down my trousers and touched my penis and took her hand out. It was out of character as she was drunk and she has had only one boyfriend. I am a virgin and was totally thrown by this and worried about possible consequences. I have a girlfriend and we are both commited virgins with no oral sex either. She is worried about this too as we want to get married. I have read some of the posts on this forum but need your expert advice on this. I have taken the gardasil vaccine but my girlfriend has yet to get it.

I am all confused with HPV

1. Could this girl have infected me with HPV?
2. Will the vaccine protect me from all infections?
3. Can HPV be on someones hand and then transmitted that way?
4. If so, can HPV be transmitted by shaking hands, or even babies get it from parents changing their nappies?
5. I'm sure she had clean hands as she was using the toilets. Would that prevent infection?

I feel 'unclean' and need to know if my worries are unfounded?

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sdaly, there are many articles of this sort in the medical literature. That someone can find HPV on someone's fingers in contrived, experitmental conditions does not mean that what they found would be transmissible.  As I told you, I would not worry about this.  EWH

[silas10]

Hi,

I believe you to be the best expert and have taken your advice on board.
Just to come back to you and clarify where I read the research. It was an article from 1999 (see below) so I presume that its dated, misinformative and biased to scare people. It says HPV 16 DNA found on fingers. Maybe hpv dna this doesn't mean that you can pass the HPV infection? Surely this is scare mongering?

See article below. Thought you might be interested. What are your thoughts?  



Sexually Transmitted Infections 1999 Oct;75(5):317-9:

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA on the fingers of patients with genital warts.

Sonnex C, Strauss S, Gray JJ, Department of GU Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, England.

“14 men and eight women with genital warts had cytobrush samples taken from genital lesions, finger tips, and tips of finger nails. Samples were examined for the presence of HPV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction.

HPV DNA was detected in all female genital samples and in 13/14 male genital samples. HPV DNA was detected in the finger brush samples of three women and nine men. The same HPV type was identified in genital and hand samples in one woman and five men.

This study has identified hand carriage of genital HPV types in patients with genital warts. Although sexual intercourse is considered the usual mode of transmitting genital HPV infection, our findings raise the possibility of transmission by finger-genital contact.”

Condoms offer little protection against HPV since any skin-to-skin contact can result in transmission of the virus.

Health Sience report website

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, that is what I am saying.  I'm not sure whom the "some" you are referring to might be but if it is something you have learned off the internet I would caution you.  there is much mis-information out there.  EWH

[silas10]

Thank you for your expert advice, it is most appreciated.

But just one more point on this. Some say HPV spread from rubbing their own genitals can be on fingers, but you are saying that that type of HPV cannot be spread to another person that way?

Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  the topic of HPV is indeed an confusing one.  I will try to provide some facts.  For additional information on this most common of STDs, I would suggest search for other HPV- and wart-related Q&A on this site, as well seeking addition information on sites such as the American Social health Association web-site (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of ASHA)..

In answer to your main question, you have no reason to worry about HPV from the events that you describe.  HPV is not spread from person to person on someone's hands.  The virus is spread by direct contact and different types of HPV tend to infect only certain locations on the body.  For instance the type of HPV that people sometimes have causing warts on their hands do not cause genital warts.  In addition, the virus is not transferred on a person’s hands from one person to another – it take direct contact.  Thus you have nothing to worry about from the exposure you describe.  As for your specific questions:

1.  No, see above and check out the web site.
2.  We do recommend the vaccine for persons such as yourself.  while it will not prevent all HPV infections, it is very effective at preventing the types of infection which are most troublesome at the genital tract.  The HPV has only been recently approved for use in males (in early October).  
3.  Np it cannot
4.  Not applicable
5.  No, not a concern, no matter where her hands had been prior to going down your pants.  

Bottom line, you have nothing to worry about.  Take care.  EWH