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STDs (Expert Forum)
Alot of HPV questions...
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. 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, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Alot of HPV questions...
by VDub4Life13, May 12, 2008 06:18PM
In October of '07 my girlfriend was diagnosed with HPV and genital warts. Not knowing anything about it, I asked her how she got it. She said that she got it through me because I was her first, but she wasn't my first. It's been over 3 years since I've had sex with another girl and I have never had any symptoms or signs. For all I knew I was clean and have never had an STD in my life. I didn't know if maybe there was another way of transmitting the virus besides sex. I've heard of HPV clearance and I wasn't sure if it was true or not or if I would even be able to tell if I was clear.
My doctors say I don't have it but that's only visually. If I am not diagnosed with HPV or genital warts, is there anything I can do besides staying healthy and getting regular check-ups? Is there any other way besides through sexually contact that the virus can be transmitted?
Also, can genital warts be mistaken for something else? Could my girlfriend's pap smear come up wrong or incorrect?
My doctors say I don't have it but that's only visually. If I am not diagnosed with HPV or genital warts, is there anything I can do besides staying healthy and getting regular check-ups? Is there any other way besides through sexually contact that the virus can be transmitted?
Also, can genital warts be mistaken for something else? Could my girlfriend's pap smear come up wrong or incorrect?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 12, 2008 07:49PM
, May 12, 2008 07:49PM
On the one hand, if your gf is being truthful about no sex with anyone else, ever, then probably you are the source of her infection. On the other hand, it is rare for someone to carry HPV for 3 years; the large majority of infections self-cure within a few months. So that argues against you as the source.
If your gf had non-pentrating sex (body rubbing, grinding without clothes), that could be a source. A few people probably are infected by hand-genital contact, i.e. fingering.
And yes, genital warts can be mistaken for other things. However, the diagnosis of HPV by pap smear usually is reliable. Your partner should discuss this possibility with the provider who diagnosed her HPV infection(s).
There is no test to know for sure that someone is entirely clear of HPV.
Finally, there remains a lot of mystery in HPV. More than with most STDs, infections pop up in surprising ways and at surprising times. Probably you and your partner are never going to know where this partcicular infection came from. But you shouldn't lose sleep over any of this. You are not likely to ever have a health problem from it; neither if your gf, if she follows her doc's advice about follow-up pap smears; and neither of you is likely to infect future sex partners.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
If your gf had non-pentrating sex (body rubbing, grinding without clothes), that could be a source. A few people probably are infected by hand-genital contact, i.e. fingering.
And yes, genital warts can be mistaken for other things. However, the diagnosis of HPV by pap smear usually is reliable. Your partner should discuss this possibility with the provider who diagnosed her HPV infection(s).
There is no test to know for sure that someone is entirely clear of HPV.
Finally, there remains a lot of mystery in HPV. More than with most STDs, infections pop up in surprising ways and at surprising times. Probably you and your partner are never going to know where this partcicular infection came from. But you shouldn't lose sleep over any of this. You are not likely to ever have a health problem from it; neither if your gf, if she follows her doc's advice about follow-up pap smears; and neither of you is likely to infect future sex partners.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
