Really worried (HPV, wart related)

Hello Dr.

A few days ago a woman and I had too much to drink and I ended up fingering her.  Just yesterday I remembered I had what appears to be a small common wart on my finger.  It is not a very large wart... about the size of four or five ball points (from a pen) crammed together. I have had warts on my hands for a few years now and some how been removed by a dermatologist and some have went away naturally.  This current one has been on my finger for probably a couple months now and is the only one on my body.

Anyway, the finger with my wart never went in her vagina, but it was next to the one that did and I am sure that it had to make some contact with the vagina at some point.  I am worried to death because I have heard that the HPV virus which causes these warts can cause cervical cancer, and now I am feeling sick inside wondering if I have possibly set this woman up for cancer or genital warts.

Is transmission in this scenario possible?  This incident didn't last very long. Probably around 5 minutes.  I don't know if I should tell her or not. I am absolutely embarrassed and worried sick and would like to hear your input.

Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  I'll try to help.

Initial response, after reading only the first sentence:  STDs are not transmitted by fingering.  If that is your only exposure to a sex partner, there is no STD you need to worry about.

Now I have read the rest. Having a wart on your finger does not increase the risk of STD.  In terms of your partner's health, the HPV types that cause common warts of the hands and feet (most commonly, HPV-1) do not infect the genitals.  They are entirely different strains than those that cause genital warts (HPV-6 and 11) and cervical cancer (HPV 16, 18, 31, 34, 45, and several others).

Bottom line:  No worries here for either you or your partner.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[dazednconfused22]

I'd like to add one more thing doctor.  Would my wart put me in any increased risk of contracting HIV if she happened to be positive? I also ended up making mouth contact with parts of her body where my fingering hand had made contact. Is that also more of a risk?

Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Like other STDs, HIV is not transmitted by fingering.  Anyway, the chance your partner had HIV probably is zero for all practical purposes.  Read the HIV Prevention forum for lots of discussions about this.