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STDs (Expert Forum)
Wart transfer with Gardasil
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
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.
Wart transfer with Gardasil
by pjL312, Jun 14, 2008 03:59AM
Hi, Me and my girlfriend broke up about six months ago. I had sex with a girl about a month after we broke up and about a month ago I noticed warts around my anus. Sure enough, I have HPV. This girl and I would like to get back together. She has had the gardasil shots. Am I still contagious to her? I am currently having them froze off. They should be gone in about 2 weeks from that. My immune system is weekened right now do to temporarily living somewhere that gives me allergy related asthma so I am on symbicort, a steroid, to help me breath better. I am moving back home in one month. Hopefully my immune system will be able to do its job properly then.
Am i still contagious to her even though she had the gardasil shots, if yes, then how will I know when I am not anymore?
Do you think they showed up do to the start of the steroids?
Thanks much.
Am i still contagious to her even though she had the gardasil shots, if yes, then how will I know when I am not anymore?
Do you think they showed up do to the start of the steroids?
Thanks much.
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Jun 14, 2008 08:56AM
, Jun 14, 2008 08:56AM
The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one. I will try to provide some facts. For addition 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)..
Now, on to HPV. HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. There are more data available regarding HPV in women than men but much of what can be said about the infection in women hold for men- the one thing that does not is that HPV in men very rarely contributes to pre-cancerous lesions or cancer in men. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-10 months. Therapy for warts accelerates resolution of warts. Once they are gone, about 20-30% recur but if that has not occurred in 6 months, a person can be confident that they ahve been cured of their infection casued by that type of HPV. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated.
Glad to hear that your GF has received the HPV vaccine and of your concern for her. The vaccine will provide her with a high degree of protection from the 2 types of HPV that cause most but not all cervical cancer in women and most visible genital warts. You are doing the right things in that she is vaccinated and your warts are being treated. I would suggest you not worry further as HPV is so common that nearly everyone has infection and there is little that one can do to avoid other than the steps you have already taken.
As for the steroids, taking inhaled steroids did not impact your immune system in such a way as to make you more vulnerable to infection.
Hope this helps. EWH
Now, on to HPV. HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. There are more data available regarding HPV in women than men but much of what can be said about the infection in women hold for men- the one thing that does not is that HPV in men very rarely contributes to pre-cancerous lesions or cancer in men. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-10 months. Therapy for warts accelerates resolution of warts. Once they are gone, about 20-30% recur but if that has not occurred in 6 months, a person can be confident that they ahve been cured of their infection casued by that type of HPV. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated.
Glad to hear that your GF has received the HPV vaccine and of your concern for her. The vaccine will provide her with a high degree of protection from the 2 types of HPV that cause most but not all cervical cancer in women and most visible genital warts. You are doing the right things in that she is vaccinated and your warts are being treated. I would suggest you not worry further as HPV is so common that nearly everyone has infection and there is little that one can do to avoid other than the steps you have already taken.
As for the steroids, taking inhaled steroids did not impact your immune system in such a way as to make you more vulnerable to infection.
Hope this helps. EWH
Member Comments (3)
by pjL312, Jun 16, 2008 12:53AM
To: Dr. Hook
So can we say if I do not have any reoccurring symptoms in the next six months after they are gone I am most likely not contagious anymore? Thanks.
by Edward W Hook, MD, Jun 16, 2008 05:45AM
, Jun 16, 2008 05:45AM
That is correct. EWH
