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Herpes or HPV infection from Performing Oral Sex?
Doc,
I was performing oral sex on a girl's vagina and anus for a good 5-10 minutes. Not to be too graphic, when I flipped her over onto her stomach and went to make a second approach, I noticed small flesh and/or white colored bumps on both her anus and a few at the bottom of the vagina's V, on the inside of the lips, close to the anus. The ones on her anus were not obvious initially on the surface, but were clearly there around the entire circumference, slightly inside the anus, when she spread a bit. I ceased what I was doing and we didn't have intercourse, though she had performed oral on me as well (no obvious "cold sores" on her mouth). I asked her why she didn't tell me she may be infected with herpes, to which she promised she was not, that they had always been there since she was about 10, and that she gets tested every 6 months "for everything". When I asked her if she had specifically gotten an HSV 1/2 test for herpes with her testing, she was unsure, but continued to reiterate that she gets tested "for everything" and those bumps had been there since she was much younger. Immediately rinsed my mouth out and took a good shower.
I am worried that I have been exposed to either Herpes or HPV (Genital Warts), both of which I understand to be highly contagious. Does this description warrent a reasonable concern? What are the chances of contracting these two viruses? What can you tell me about the transmission rate from females via genital (female) to oral contact?
I understand there is no test for males to determine HPV status. For Herpes, do you recommend a HSV 1/2 blood test at the 3 month mark?
Thank you very much for your help and the good work you do.
I was performing oral sex on a girl's vagina and anus for a good 5-10 minutes. Not to be too graphic, when I flipped her over onto her stomach and went to make a second approach, I noticed small flesh and/or white colored bumps on both her anus and a few at the bottom of the vagina's V, on the inside of the lips, close to the anus. The ones on her anus were not obvious initially on the surface, but were clearly there around the entire circumference, slightly inside the anus, when she spread a bit. I ceased what I was doing and we didn't have intercourse, though she had performed oral on me as well (no obvious "cold sores" on her mouth). I asked her why she didn't tell me she may be infected with herpes, to which she promised she was not, that they had always been there since she was about 10, and that she gets tested every 6 months "for everything". When I asked her if she had specifically gotten an HSV 1/2 test for herpes with her testing, she was unsure, but continued to reiterate that she gets tested "for everything" and those bumps had been there since she was much younger. Immediately rinsed my mouth out and took a good shower.
I am worried that I have been exposed to either Herpes or HPV (Genital Warts), both of which I understand to be highly contagious. Does this description warrent a reasonable concern? What are the chances of contracting these two viruses? What can you tell me about the transmission rate from females via genital (female) to oral contact?
I understand there is no test for males to determine HPV status. For Herpes, do you recommend a HSV 1/2 blood test at the 3 month mark?
Thank you very much for your help and the good work you do.
Thank you Grace. I repost the following summary of questions as a listing for Doctors Hook and Hansfield to reference after I link this post on their pay forum:
(1) What are the chances of contracting these two viruses from active herpes sores or genital warts?
(2) What can you tell me about the transmission rate from females via genital (female) to oral contact?
(3) For Herpes, do you recommend a HSV 1/2 blood test at the 3 month mark?
(4) What are the chances I contracted HPV from performing oral sex on what we will assume were Genital Warts?
(5) If I did contract HPV in my oral region from this act (which unfortunately I cannot know since there is no HPV test for men), does this now mean that I can pass HPV that causes Genital Warts onto another partner by kissing or performing oral sex on them, whether or not I ever develop warts in or around my oral region???
(6) While I know there is no cure for HPV, can the body eventually rid itself of the virus over time? Does this always happen? If not always, is there any quantifiable data to show how often it occurs?
(7) Are there any disadvantages or health risks to getting the immunization 10 years past the recommended cutoff age?
(8) What do you know or what can you tell me about the possibilities of retransmission? Is there any data and/or are there any studies to support Dr. Hansfield's latest assertions?
(9) Can you weigh in on the relatively new tests for Oral HPV such as the OraRisk test being marketed to dentists that uses DNA-PCR analysis?
(1) What are the chances of contracting these two viruses from active herpes sores or genital warts?
(2) What can you tell me about the transmission rate from females via genital (female) to oral contact?
(3) For Herpes, do you recommend a HSV 1/2 blood test at the 3 month mark?
(4) What are the chances I contracted HPV from performing oral sex on what we will assume were Genital Warts?
(5) If I did contract HPV in my oral region from this act (which unfortunately I cannot know since there is no HPV test for men), does this now mean that I can pass HPV that causes Genital Warts onto another partner by kissing or performing oral sex on them, whether or not I ever develop warts in or around my oral region???
(6) While I know there is no cure for HPV, can the body eventually rid itself of the virus over time? Does this always happen? If not always, is there any quantifiable data to show how often it occurs?
(7) Are there any disadvantages or health risks to getting the immunization 10 years past the recommended cutoff age?
(8) What do you know or what can you tell me about the possibilities of retransmission? Is there any data and/or are there any studies to support Dr. Hansfield's latest assertions?
(9) Can you weigh in on the relatively new tests for Oral HPV such as the OraRisk test being marketed to dentists that uses DNA-PCR analysis?
also I don't know anything about the test you mentioned. I'm sure Dr Hook or Handsfied would be more up to date if you want to pay to post to them.
as far as I know, all of our oral hpv testing is correlated to oral sex, not kissing.
if hpv was easily transmitted through kissing, I'm sure we'd have far higher rates of oral hpv infection than we do. the data in the studies just doesn't reflect something that would be THAT easily transmitted.
if hpv was easily transmitted through kissing, I'm sure we'd have far higher rates of oral hpv infection than we do. the data in the studies just doesn't reflect something that would be THAT easily transmitted.
Grace,
In regards to the question I posed in my 2nd post:
"If I did contract HPV in my oral region from this act (which unfortunately I cannot know since there is no HPV test for men), does this now mean that I can pass HPV that causes Genital Warts onto another partner by kissing or performing oral sex on them, whether or not I ever develop warts in or around my oral region???"
I am very concerned about being able to infect someone else and cause them oral or genital warts from me having kissed them or performed oral sex on them. It seems clear to me that HPV is still being researched and new discoveries are being made. When I read about Oral HPV Transmission or Retransmission in the Expert Forums, Dr. Hook and Hansfield give different answers as to the possiblity of retransmission, depending on how old or new the thread is. As you might expect, the same holds true when searching the internet for this topic. In the newest threads on that topic, Dr. Hansfield seems to indicate that the possibilty of retransmitting hpv from my mouth to a partners mouth or genitals is not possible or so minute that it's not worth considering, though again, no quantifiable data is given. What do you know or what can you tell me about the possibilities of retransmission? Is there any data and/or are there any studies to support Dr. Hansfield's latest assertions? I just can't seem to get a straight answer for this, even if that answer is "We don't know yet as there are no studies or data on this.", and it seems that I am not the only one looking for this information! To a certain extent, it boggles my mind that with all the information and different sources out there, likelyhood of retransmission of oral genital wart causing HPV is not addressed.
Additionally, can you weigh in on the relatively new tests for Oral HPV such as the OraRisk test being marketed to dentists that uses DNA-PCR analysis?
Thanks Again, raven999
In regards to the question I posed in my 2nd post:
"If I did contract HPV in my oral region from this act (which unfortunately I cannot know since there is no HPV test for men), does this now mean that I can pass HPV that causes Genital Warts onto another partner by kissing or performing oral sex on them, whether or not I ever develop warts in or around my oral region???"
I am very concerned about being able to infect someone else and cause them oral or genital warts from me having kissed them or performed oral sex on them. It seems clear to me that HPV is still being researched and new discoveries are being made. When I read about Oral HPV Transmission or Retransmission in the Expert Forums, Dr. Hook and Hansfield give different answers as to the possiblity of retransmission, depending on how old or new the thread is. As you might expect, the same holds true when searching the internet for this topic. In the newest threads on that topic, Dr. Hansfield seems to indicate that the possibilty of retransmitting hpv from my mouth to a partners mouth or genitals is not possible or so minute that it's not worth considering, though again, no quantifiable data is given. What do you know or what can you tell me about the possibilities of retransmission? Is there any data and/or are there any studies to support Dr. Hansfield's latest assertions? I just can't seem to get a straight answer for this, even if that answer is "We don't know yet as there are no studies or data on this.", and it seems that I am not the only one looking for this information! To a certain extent, it boggles my mind that with all the information and different sources out there, likelyhood of retransmission of oral genital wart causing HPV is not addressed.
Additionally, can you weigh in on the relatively new tests for Oral HPV such as the OraRisk test being marketed to dentists that uses DNA-PCR analysis?
Thanks Again, raven999
if you are getting close to 40, little benefit to getting gardasil. we do have some data that show even getting vaccinated over 30 is helpful for reducing oral cancers but not enough to get FDA approval to have it done ( they applied for it probably 2 years ago now if I recall and it got turned down ).
yes indeed, the vast majority of people clear hpv from their body over time.
yes indeed, the vast majority of people clear hpv from their body over time.
we don't have stats as to how high the risk is.
Grace,
First of all let me thank you for your response. I typed out an explanation yesterday about why I was reposting my question in the Herpes section for hopes of an answer from one of the doctors, but for some reason it did not save when I clicked on Post.
Part of my explanation was that what I saw did most definitely not look like "normal skin in that area" from my experience. This has been mostly confirmed today as my partner went to her gynecologist who believes she has Genital Warts (HPV). Tests are being done (as well as another full STD battery including HSV 1/2 tests for Herpes) and we hope to have the results in a couple of weeks.
In my original post, I asked specific questions looking for specific (with numerical statistical data where possible) answers and do not feel I received that. I understand you and your colleges are constantly bombarded with people who are overly anxious before, and sometimes still after, they are presented with the facts and statistics of their risk. As such, attempting to calm unwarranted fears is part of the good work you do. However, since I knew before that what I was looking at wasn't normal, and now have a doctor's examination to back it up, I don't think I am "worrying needlessly" and once again have specific questions to which I request specific answers. Of course, I have done a lot of research on the web, but have sometimes found the answers to the questions I present below incomplete, unquantifiable, unmentioned, and/or inconsistent from site to site. I ask for your expert opinion and/or a forwarding of this to one of the doctors to help clarify and quantify the information I am looking for below.
What are the chances I contracted HPV from performing oral sex on what we will assume were Genital Warts?
If I did contract HPV in my oral region from this act (which unfortunately I cannot know since there is no HPV test for men), does this now mean that I can pass HPV that causes Genital Warts onto another partner by kissing or performing oral sex on them, whether or not I ever develop warts in or around my oral region???
If so, will it always be like this (see below)??
While I know there is no cure for HPV, can the body eventually rid itself of the virus over time? One site I found states: "A person’s immune system fights the virus and eventually, most HPV infections resolve spontaneously in 1-2 years. After the spontaneous resolution (in 1-2 years), the body’s immune system will remember the virus type and keep you from getting that particular type of HPV again. Because there are many types of HPV, developing immunity to one HPV type does not offer protection from other types. If exposed to another type of HPV, genital warts can reappear."
Does this always happen? If not always, is there any quantifiable data to show how often it occurs?
Currently, the maximum age for a man to receive the HPV vaccine through normal channels is 26. I believe this is based on the thought process that by this time, most people would have been exposed to the HPV strains it immunizes against, making immunization pointless. For men however, there is no way for us to know what we have been exposed to with a commercially available test. So by my view, finding a provider that will administer the vaccine to someone over 26 (I'm 36) would simple be a dice roll in the dark that I hadn't been exposed to the, I believe 4 strains, it immunizes against. I would call it blind insurance. Other than that, are there any disadvantages or health risks to getting the immunization 10 years past the recommended cutoff age?
Thank you again and in advance for your time and trouble in helping me find answers to my questions.
Very Respectfully, raven999
First of all let me thank you for your response. I typed out an explanation yesterday about why I was reposting my question in the Herpes section for hopes of an answer from one of the doctors, but for some reason it did not save when I clicked on Post.
Part of my explanation was that what I saw did most definitely not look like "normal skin in that area" from my experience. This has been mostly confirmed today as my partner went to her gynecologist who believes she has Genital Warts (HPV). Tests are being done (as well as another full STD battery including HSV 1/2 tests for Herpes) and we hope to have the results in a couple of weeks.
In my original post, I asked specific questions looking for specific (with numerical statistical data where possible) answers and do not feel I received that. I understand you and your colleges are constantly bombarded with people who are overly anxious before, and sometimes still after, they are presented with the facts and statistics of their risk. As such, attempting to calm unwarranted fears is part of the good work you do. However, since I knew before that what I was looking at wasn't normal, and now have a doctor's examination to back it up, I don't think I am "worrying needlessly" and once again have specific questions to which I request specific answers. Of course, I have done a lot of research on the web, but have sometimes found the answers to the questions I present below incomplete, unquantifiable, unmentioned, and/or inconsistent from site to site. I ask for your expert opinion and/or a forwarding of this to one of the doctors to help clarify and quantify the information I am looking for below.
What are the chances I contracted HPV from performing oral sex on what we will assume were Genital Warts?
If I did contract HPV in my oral region from this act (which unfortunately I cannot know since there is no HPV test for men), does this now mean that I can pass HPV that causes Genital Warts onto another partner by kissing or performing oral sex on them, whether or not I ever develop warts in or around my oral region???
If so, will it always be like this (see below)??
While I know there is no cure for HPV, can the body eventually rid itself of the virus over time? One site I found states: "A person’s immune system fights the virus and eventually, most HPV infections resolve spontaneously in 1-2 years. After the spontaneous resolution (in 1-2 years), the body’s immune system will remember the virus type and keep you from getting that particular type of HPV again. Because there are many types of HPV, developing immunity to one HPV type does not offer protection from other types. If exposed to another type of HPV, genital warts can reappear."
Does this always happen? If not always, is there any quantifiable data to show how often it occurs?
Currently, the maximum age for a man to receive the HPV vaccine through normal channels is 26. I believe this is based on the thought process that by this time, most people would have been exposed to the HPV strains it immunizes against, making immunization pointless. For men however, there is no way for us to know what we have been exposed to with a commercially available test. So by my view, finding a provider that will administer the vaccine to someone over 26 (I'm 36) would simple be a dice roll in the dark that I hadn't been exposed to the, I believe 4 strains, it immunizes against. I would call it blind insurance. Other than that, are there any disadvantages or health risks to getting the immunization 10 years past the recommended cutoff age?
Thank you again and in advance for your time and trouble in helping me find answers to my questions.
Very Respectfully, raven999
odds are what you are describing isn't herpes or hpv going on. Sounds more like normal skin in that area.
can you contract hpv orally? yes you can. do we test for it? no we do not.
can you contract hsv2 orally? yes you can but no reason to test for it from this encounter. the risk really is that low.
we recommend protected oral sexual contact because it works. always a good idea to utilize barrier protection when performing oral - it protects you and saves you all this worrying needlessly!
grace
can you contract hpv orally? yes you can. do we test for it? no we do not.
can you contract hsv2 orally? yes you can but no reason to test for it from this encounter. the risk really is that low.
we recommend protected oral sexual contact because it works. always a good idea to utilize barrier protection when performing oral - it protects you and saves you all this worrying needlessly!
grace
You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
