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Genital Warts and My Relationship
Dear Dr. HHH/Hook, Let me begin by saying I had my Gardasil shots completed back in mid-2006 around the time that it was still very new. I had my first diagnosis with HPV two years ago in 2009. I had ASC-US result which led to a colposcopy. The colposcopy came back clean. Four months later I had 2 small warts in the lower left pubic area treated with TCA which resolved them. I had been free of any recurrence since, which is a year and a half, and now a month ago I started feeling a small bump in the same region similar to the old ones everytime I shaved. It was so small I let it go at first (while still keeping an eye on it) thinking it might be a hair follicle because it was very hard to see. Last week, I finally went to the doctor and had to point it out myself because it was so small. She treated the area with TCA and it is now gone. She said because of the time between warts it was likely a different HPV strain.
Now for the question: I have been in a new healthy, monogamous relationship for nearly a year now and I had to tell my partner about HPV and warts once I got treated for this last one. He doesn't seem to have any visible symptoms despite the fact we have had unprotected sex (oral and vaginal) 95% of the time during the year. Now we're both concerned about wart transmission through either vaginal or oral intercourse (me to him or him to me) and I don't know what to do or say or how to proceed with sex from here on. How do we proceed or what can I tell him to alleviate these concerns? We have even talked about a baby before this happened so should I now wait some time to get pregnant to reduce my chances of an even worse outbreak during pregnancy?
P.S. Thank you for all your responses in the forum. I have found them very helpful and I can't wait to get more in-depth feedback on my situation. :)
Now for the question: I have been in a new healthy, monogamous relationship for nearly a year now and I had to tell my partner about HPV and warts once I got treated for this last one. He doesn't seem to have any visible symptoms despite the fact we have had unprotected sex (oral and vaginal) 95% of the time during the year. Now we're both concerned about wart transmission through either vaginal or oral intercourse (me to him or him to me) and I don't know what to do or say or how to proceed with sex from here on. How do we proceed or what can I tell him to alleviate these concerns? We have even talked about a baby before this happened so should I now wait some time to get pregnant to reduce my chances of an even worse outbreak during pregnancy?
P.S. Thank you for all your responses in the forum. I have found them very helpful and I can't wait to get more in-depth feedback on my situation. :)
Thank you for your feedback. It's definitely reassuring. The doctor was pretty confident that it was a wart considering the characteristics (flat, flesh-colored, etc.) but either way I'm just glad it's gone. I made another appointment this week to check for any internal warts. Just want to make sure everything is clear and have more peace of mind. It really does feel like a nuisance. Hopefully, this information will calm my boyfriend's concerns as well. Thank you again!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. You are doing everything right and for that I congratulate you. The HPV vaccine is highly beneficial and your decision to disclose your concerns about HIV is something for both you and your partner to feel good about. In doing so you have created a situation in which there is no need for recrimination or concern. So, where do you go from here.
First let me also point out that I agree with your doctor that, given how long it has been since treatment, the lesion that was most recently treated is quite unlikely to be a recurrence of past HPV infection. That of course is, IF it was definitely a wart and now that it is gone, you will not know that. It may have been but it may have also have been a cyst or hair follicle or some other benign skin problem unrelated to HPV. Without a biopsy (which I would not recommend) you cannot be sure. Your treatment with TCA is non-specific and could well have eliminate any of the processes I mentioned.
Going forth, I would urge you and your partner not to let this lesion, even if it were a wart to have a negative impact on your relationship. For better or worse, HPV infections remain a fact of life an while the HPV vaccine is highly effective against the most common an troublesome ones, it is still common for persons to get warts due to other types of HPV. It is for this reason that PAP smears continue to be recommended for women who have received the vaccine and that should warts appear, treatment is appropriate. I would not let this worry you however and would consider it more of a nuisance than anything else. You may have gotten your lesion form him. Transmission my occur but if it does, should not be troublesome and should not represent a serious health risk or have ANY negative effect on a future pregnancy. In fact, given your vaccine status and knowledge of the subject, you are far less likely to have problems going forth than others who are not so knowledgeable.
I hope this is helpful. I don't mean to trivialize or minimize your concerns. This lesion, IF it was HPV is most unlikely to constitute a meaningful threat to you, your partner or to future pregnancy. EWH
First let me also point out that I agree with your doctor that, given how long it has been since treatment, the lesion that was most recently treated is quite unlikely to be a recurrence of past HPV infection. That of course is, IF it was definitely a wart and now that it is gone, you will not know that. It may have been but it may have also have been a cyst or hair follicle or some other benign skin problem unrelated to HPV. Without a biopsy (which I would not recommend) you cannot be sure. Your treatment with TCA is non-specific and could well have eliminate any of the processes I mentioned.
Going forth, I would urge you and your partner not to let this lesion, even if it were a wart to have a negative impact on your relationship. For better or worse, HPV infections remain a fact of life an while the HPV vaccine is highly effective against the most common an troublesome ones, it is still common for persons to get warts due to other types of HPV. It is for this reason that PAP smears continue to be recommended for women who have received the vaccine and that should warts appear, treatment is appropriate. I would not let this worry you however and would consider it more of a nuisance than anything else. You may have gotten your lesion form him. Transmission my occur but if it does, should not be troublesome and should not represent a serious health risk or have ANY negative effect on a future pregnancy. In fact, given your vaccine status and knowledge of the subject, you are far less likely to have problems going forth than others who are not so knowledgeable.
I hope this is helpful. I don't mean to trivialize or minimize your concerns. This lesion, IF it was HPV is most unlikely to constitute a meaningful threat to you, your partner or to future pregnancy. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
