Truth about HPV

[HPVinfected]

I had sex with a girl in May 2011 who told me she was clean before we had sex. I found out later that was a lie, and she admitted to passing it to me on purpose. A couple of days after having sex with her I noticed a brown oval shaped mark on my penis. I ignored it thinking it was rubbed raw or something and that it would go away. After a few weeks I went and got checked at the local county health clinic. They diagnosed me as positive for HPV. They gave me the acid treatment. A couple of days later it turned black and after a week it was gone. I had another outbreak about couple of weeks after that. I wanted to find someone that said they were very knowledgeable about this virus so I called around to several doctor offices. I found a clinic that they said the nurse practitioner was very experienced with this virus I went in for a checkup. She told me that it was HPV and treated me for the 2nd outbreak. She told me that HPV will never go away and this is something I will have for the rest of my life. She told me to be very careful every time I  touched myself and to wash my hands after even a touch or I would be at risk of spreading the warts to other parts of my body. She also said that if I were to have sexual contact with someone that I would need to warn them that I have HPV. No one has been able to give a good way to tell someone and still end up having sex. It seems to be a deal killer, which I understand.
I still continued to look around for more information about the life cycle of HPV. I have found several websites that say HPV will go away on its own in 6 - 24 months. The CDC said that after 2 yrs without an outbreak I could consider myself to be clean of the virus and that my immune system could fight off the infection.
I am trying to find out what information is true and what is being told to me is from someone that isn't up to date with the latest data. Will HPV clear up in time? Do I need to worry about the type of HPV? Will 1 type stay around longer than others? Is this something that I need to restrain from having sexual actives in the future to avoid giving a woman the chance of getting cervical cancer? Any suggestions on how to tell someone that I have HPV and still have a positive outcome? Any other advice will be MOST WELCOMED.

[SkaterDave]

Just keep reading bro.  Go to the Doctor section of STDs and key word search HPV.  You'll learn a good deal and a perspective that isn't alarmist.  I had HPV breakouts for exactly a year and now none for six months.  Yours will be contained by your immune system too in time. I'd say you'll be done with this in less than two years.  Also, you are not necessarily contagious when you are not having an outbreak but you may be.  You are most def contagious when having one however.  HPV warts have no medical malignancy that is known of so it is not a medical problem per se. IT's a skin condition that no one wants but it doesn't lead to anything and does go away in less than two years in the vast majority of cases.  If talking about it with someone, don't be all doomsday about it, don't wring your hands the whole time.  Simply tell them that you've been treated for hpv in the past and ask them what they know about it.  Most likely you'll have to educate them that it's no big deal, lots of sexually active people get it at some point and it's just a skin condition, it's a wart is all.  If you've gone six months without them reappearing you can consider yourself most likely out of the woods.  Good luck.

[iGrief]

Hi, sorry to hear about your awful truth. Similar but slightly different situation than mine...anyway...

"Will HPV clear up in time?"

In time, yes. But everyone's result vary, some guy had it for 4 years, some guy had it for less than 6 months and it cleared after the first outbreak, some have it for 2 years and then it stops. I'm past 2 years (more than 24 months), I'm still fighting this virus but I'm not gonna be any negative. I'm gonna beat it, you should too.

"Do I need to worry about the type of HPV?"

Depends. But overall, you shouldn't worry too much.

"Will 1 type stay around longer than others?"

Yes, there are some strains that are more persistent and will stay for awhile before they leave.

"Is this something that I need to restrain from having sexual actives in the future to avoid giving a woman the chance of getting cervical cancer?"

Yes. But some studies say that once you're cleared from HPV, you shouldn't be able to pass it to anyone. While some other studies say that this is not true. But overall, focus on getting better and HPV-free first before you think about having sex.

"Any suggestions on how to tell someone that I have HPV and still have a positive outcome?"

Yeah, just tell and be honest. Don't worry. There are people who will accept it and some who won't.