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OraRisk tests // Oral HPV
Doctors,
I am dealing with some anxiety issues relating to HPV. I have never been diagnosed with genital HPV, but I have been having flat warts on the backs of my hands (and maybe a few on my fingers) treated, along with the same on my feet. Now I'm deathly afraid that I might have gotten oral HPV as well (I bit my fingernails, for instance.)
In researching this online I see that there is a test offered by Quest, OraRisk. It seems Dr Handsfeld's feedback from last year said that health experts don't recommend this, etc etc. Is that still the case? My anxiety issues relate to a form of guilt and responsibility--like I should do everything possible to know if I am infected with anything, and then I would need to tell all partners (even if it were only kissing involved, etc.)
I'm imagining that if every person went out and got the OraRisk test that a healthy percentage of them would end up having some strain or other of HPV.
Can you give a definitive answer on the OraRisk test? Is it recommended? Should I avoid it entirely, go on to have a 'normal' sex life without feeling the need to get the test to 'make sure' I am not putting anyone 'at risk'?
I am dealing with some anxiety issues relating to HPV. I have never been diagnosed with genital HPV, but I have been having flat warts on the backs of my hands (and maybe a few on my fingers) treated, along with the same on my feet. Now I'm deathly afraid that I might have gotten oral HPV as well (I bit my fingernails, for instance.)
In researching this online I see that there is a test offered by Quest, OraRisk. It seems Dr Handsfeld's feedback from last year said that health experts don't recommend this, etc etc. Is that still the case? My anxiety issues relate to a form of guilt and responsibility--like I should do everything possible to know if I am infected with anything, and then I would need to tell all partners (even if it were only kissing involved, etc.)
I'm imagining that if every person went out and got the OraRisk test that a healthy percentage of them would end up having some strain or other of HPV.
Can you give a definitive answer on the OraRisk test? Is it recommended? Should I avoid it entirely, go on to have a 'normal' sex life without feeling the need to get the test to 'make sure' I am not putting anyone 'at risk'?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Oral HPV doesn't cause sore throat or any other symptoms.
That's definitely the end of this thread. You are exactly right about feeding need for additional reassurance. Along the same lines, note that MedHelp permits a maximum of 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums -- see Terms and Conditions. Any more on this one before next April would be deleted without reply (and without refund).
That's definitely the end of this thread. You are exactly right about feeding need for additional reassurance. Along the same lines, note that MedHelp permits a maximum of 2 questions every 6 months on the professionally moderated forums -- see Terms and Conditions. Any more on this one before next April would be deleted without reply (and without refund).
And this holds true even if I have what I might think are 'symptoms', like a periodic sore throat, etc?
Well & truly the last question here.
(And realizing that seeking constant reassurance only feeds the need for more reassurance, which is something I'm working on independently, with a different sort of doctor ;).
Well & truly the last question here.
(And realizing that seeking constant reassurance only feeds the need for more reassurance, which is something I'm working on independently, with a different sort of doctor ;).
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Correct on both.
Thank you doctor. So to summarize in idiot-simple terms:
1) Don't get tested for oral HPV,
and 2) Even a positive oral HPV result, for any strain, wouldn't mean one should mention this fact to future partners.
1) Don't get tested for oral HPV,
and 2) Even a positive oral HPV result, for any strain, wouldn't mean one should mention this fact to future partners.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, you should say nothing to partners regardless of your test result. It won't make any difference in their risk of being infected. That's one of the reasons you shouldn't be tested.
Please try to gain understanding that having HPV -- genital, oral, and other body areas -- is unavoidable. We all have one or more HPV infections at one time or another, often several times. It's part of life. Happily, the vast majority of infections are harmless, even with the "high risk" types.
Please try to gain understanding that having HPV -- genital, oral, and other body areas -- is unavoidable. We all have one or more HPV infections at one time or another, often several times. It's part of life. Happily, the vast majority of infections are harmless, even with the "high risk" types.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum. But I doubt I can help much. You had complete answers from Dr. Hook a week ago, in quite some detail. Anxiety problems typically don't resolve with improved understanding of the facts.
Questions about oral HPV, oral sex, and throat cancer have been common on the forum. Below are links to two threads that discuss these issues; at least one of them has links to still other threads.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-and-oral-sex/show/1515473
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Oral-HPV-Cancer-Risk/show/1512873
Oral HPV is one tenth as common as genital HPV, and generally clears up on its own without ever causing cancer or other problems. It really isn't something to be worried about. There are several reasons experts do not currently recommend testing for oral HPV: test performance is not standardized; people with negative results may still have oral HPV; people with postive results may not actually be infected, and even if they are, nothing can be done; and a positive result does not necessarily mean someone is at increased risk for cancer, for transmission to partners, or anything else. Maybe future research will change things, but that's the current state of scientific knowledge.
Because of those issues, I have no experience with the OraQuick test -- I have never recommended it for my patients nor had the opportunity to evaluate someone's test result. I cannot advise further about it.
As for your concern about infecting partners, forget it. Your current or future sex partners are not going to be at either higher or lower risk of catching HPV as a result of having sex with you, either oral or genital, regardless of your test result.
And by the way, your apparent hand warts are irrelevant. Common hand warts are caused by different HPV types than those that cause genital or most oral infections.
HHH, MD
Questions about oral HPV, oral sex, and throat cancer have been common on the forum. Below are links to two threads that discuss these issues; at least one of them has links to still other threads.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-and-oral-sex/show/1515473
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Oral-HPV-Cancer-Risk/show/1512873
Oral HPV is one tenth as common as genital HPV, and generally clears up on its own without ever causing cancer or other problems. It really isn't something to be worried about. There are several reasons experts do not currently recommend testing for oral HPV: test performance is not standardized; people with negative results may still have oral HPV; people with postive results may not actually be infected, and even if they are, nothing can be done; and a positive result does not necessarily mean someone is at increased risk for cancer, for transmission to partners, or anything else. Maybe future research will change things, but that's the current state of scientific knowledge.
Because of those issues, I have no experience with the OraQuick test -- I have never recommended it for my patients nor had the opportunity to evaluate someone's test result. I cannot advise further about it.
As for your concern about infecting partners, forget it. Your current or future sex partners are not going to be at either higher or lower risk of catching HPV as a result of having sex with you, either oral or genital, regardless of your test result.
And by the way, your apparent hand warts are irrelevant. Common hand warts are caused by different HPV types than those that cause genital or most oral infections.
HHH, MD
...and I guess my subsidiary question would be--let's say I DID go get the OraRisk test and it showed positive for some HPV strains, including the high-risk ones. Would I then need to inform future partners before intercourse, deep kissing, oral sex, etc?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
