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STDs (Expert Forum)
HPV transmission possible
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Warts, Yeast Infection.All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
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HPV transmission possible
by sunny2006, Jun 20, 2006 12:00AM
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for all that you do. I have questions pertaining to transmission of a past HPV/genital warts infection. I am a 28 year old female and had an outbreak of warts about 5 years ago. I had them removed and they did not come back until about 6 months ago. The first outbreak was in my vaginal area and they were frozen off. The second outbreak was in my anal area and again frozen off. The doctor said they are gone (visual inspection) and have been for about 6 months now. During this time (5 years, I have only been with my boyfriend having mostly unprotected vaginal and oral sex. I know he must share my HPV infection but to date, has not shown any signs. Here are my questions.
About 1 week ago, I had an unprtected encounter with another man. During this encounter, we participated in oral sex (both giving and receiving. He did finger me and stimulate me. There was a lot of kissing, touching, etc. I did not touch myself and then touch his penis and I do not know for sure if he touched himself after he fingered/stimulated me. We also did not grind our genitals together. It was mainly oral and stimulation. After we finished, we showered. Here are my questions.
1. What is the possibility of me transferring this to him by giving him oral sex? Is there anything I could have acquired by this oral episode? I didn't see anything visable on him.
2. What is the possibility of him acquiring HPV by him giving me oral sex? Is there a possibility that if he did acquire it, can he now pass it to his partner after our oral sex?
3. What is the possibility of HPV transmission after him fingering and touching me?
The issue I have is that he does have a girlfriend also and I just don't want him to be able to give anything to her. I am not sure if I should have told him prior to engaging in these activitie and now am feeling extremely guilty. In your opinion, should I be obligated to tell a parner of a past HPV infection even if I don't have intercourse and it's been more than 6 months? Also, can you estimate a transmission risk on the questions above? Please help....
Thank you for all that you do. I have questions pertaining to transmission of a past HPV/genital warts infection. I am a 28 year old female and had an outbreak of warts about 5 years ago. I had them removed and they did not come back until about 6 months ago. The first outbreak was in my vaginal area and they were frozen off. The second outbreak was in my anal area and again frozen off. The doctor said they are gone (visual inspection) and have been for about 6 months now. During this time (5 years, I have only been with my boyfriend having mostly unprotected vaginal and oral sex. I know he must share my HPV infection but to date, has not shown any signs. Here are my questions.
About 1 week ago, I had an unprtected encounter with another man. During this encounter, we participated in oral sex (both giving and receiving. He did finger me and stimulate me. There was a lot of kissing, touching, etc. I did not touch myself and then touch his penis and I do not know for sure if he touched himself after he fingered/stimulated me. We also did not grind our genitals together. It was mainly oral and stimulation. After we finished, we showered. Here are my questions.
1. What is the possibility of me transferring this to him by giving him oral sex? Is there anything I could have acquired by this oral episode? I didn't see anything visable on him.
2. What is the possibility of him acquiring HPV by him giving me oral sex? Is there a possibility that if he did acquire it, can he now pass it to his partner after our oral sex?
3. What is the possibility of HPV transmission after him fingering and touching me?
The issue I have is that he does have a girlfriend also and I just don't want him to be able to give anything to her. I am not sure if I should have told him prior to engaging in these activitie and now am feeling extremely guilty. In your opinion, should I be obligated to tell a parner of a past HPV infection even if I don't have intercourse and it's been more than 6 months? Also, can you estimate a transmission risk on the questions above? Please help....
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jun 20, 2006 12:00AM
, Jun 20, 2006 12:00AM
Oral sex is very safe; the chance of any STD transmission is low. The highest risk is for oral herpes being transferred to the genitals of the partner receiving oral sex. HPV is not normally transmitted by oral sex, in either direction. No STD, including HPV, is transmitted by hand-to-genital contact or vice versa. (Some people claim there are exceptions, and they may be right--but if so, it is rare.)
You absolutely have no obligation to inform your partner or anyone else of your past genital warts. That infection probably is now gone; but even if not, you could not have transmitted it to his hands. And there is no reason to suspect that your HPV infection also involved your mouth, so performing oral sex on your partner didn't risk HPV transmission.
Nobody knows how long HPV can be transmitted after warts clear up, so there is no hard and fast rule about informing future partners. But since you had recurrent warts (although no way to know whether they really were recurrent, or a new infection), perhaps you have greater risk than other persons to have persistent infection. The conservative (and polite) approach would be to inform future partners of your recent infection. But if you go a full year without reappearance of warts, in my opinion you would not need to inform partners after that.
I hope this helps. Good luck-- HHH, MD
You absolutely have no obligation to inform your partner or anyone else of your past genital warts. That infection probably is now gone; but even if not, you could not have transmitted it to his hands. And there is no reason to suspect that your HPV infection also involved your mouth, so performing oral sex on your partner didn't risk HPV transmission.
Nobody knows how long HPV can be transmitted after warts clear up, so there is no hard and fast rule about informing future partners. But since you had recurrent warts (although no way to know whether they really were recurrent, or a new infection), perhaps you have greater risk than other persons to have persistent infection. The conservative (and polite) approach would be to inform future partners of your recent infection. But if you go a full year without reappearance of warts, in my opinion you would not need to inform partners after that.
I hope this helps. Good luck-- HHH, MD
I already answered the genital-hand-genital transmission issue. If it occurs, it is rare.
HHH, MD
If I continue with the same partner that I have been with for 5 years and assuming he does share my Warts/HPV. Will we continue to pass the infection back and forth causing more outbreaks? This concerns me also because if I am clear after 6 months, I am worried I will have a reocurrance. Also, then can I continue to be infectious to other casual partners. Again, not having intercourse but oral, etc.