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HPV Anxiety
I've been having anxiety over two sexual encounters involving mutual masturbation (we touched each others' penises and he also touched my anus). He was an older male who claimed to practice safe sex with everyone, and is married.
My anxiety is because I was my girlfriend's first and only sexual partner, and before these encounters she was my only partner. If she were to develop HPV from me, she would know that I have been unfaithful.
1. What is the difference between a "high" and "low" risk exposure? Is high risk 90-100% and low risk 10%? In some threads, both doctors claim that they have never seen HPV transmitted by mutual masturbation in their combined 50 years, but in others it seems that it presented as a more likely scenario.
2. During the encounter in April, my penis was chaffed and irritated from masturbating the night before. Could this have increased the likelihood of catching HPV?
3. What would you consider to be the "warning signs" of HPV? I am so anxious about this subject that I have been closely inspecting my penis and scrotum for the past 10 days. Most spots seem normal (do fordyce spots normally grow far up the front side of the shaft of the penis?), but every one I find adds to my anxiety.
4. Is HPV usually very clear and easy to recognize, and how quickly does it appear / grow? I also have some small spots on the glans of my penis that are visible, but when I stretch the skin out they seem too small and evenly spaced to be HPV. I would prefer not to continue checking my genitals every few hours out of a feeling of anxiety and guilt. Every spot I've seen would not cause my worry if I were not experiencing this heightened sense of anxiety, and none have grow noticeably, except perhaps when I irritate the area through stretching and inspecting.
5. At what points would you consider me "safe" to stop worrying about these incidents? Also, at what point should I get potential growths checked in person? I don't think anything now would
Thanks!
My anxiety is because I was my girlfriend's first and only sexual partner, and before these encounters she was my only partner. If she were to develop HPV from me, she would know that I have been unfaithful.
1. What is the difference between a "high" and "low" risk exposure? Is high risk 90-100% and low risk 10%? In some threads, both doctors claim that they have never seen HPV transmitted by mutual masturbation in their combined 50 years, but in others it seems that it presented as a more likely scenario.
2. During the encounter in April, my penis was chaffed and irritated from masturbating the night before. Could this have increased the likelihood of catching HPV?
3. What would you consider to be the "warning signs" of HPV? I am so anxious about this subject that I have been closely inspecting my penis and scrotum for the past 10 days. Most spots seem normal (do fordyce spots normally grow far up the front side of the shaft of the penis?), but every one I find adds to my anxiety.
4. Is HPV usually very clear and easy to recognize, and how quickly does it appear / grow? I also have some small spots on the glans of my penis that are visible, but when I stretch the skin out they seem too small and evenly spaced to be HPV. I would prefer not to continue checking my genitals every few hours out of a feeling of anxiety and guilt. Every spot I've seen would not cause my worry if I were not experiencing this heightened sense of anxiety, and none have grow noticeably, except perhaps when I irritate the area through stretching and inspecting.
5. At what points would you consider me "safe" to stop worrying about these incidents? Also, at what point should I get potential growths checked in person? I don't think anything now would
Thanks!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Obviously a typo; sorry. "STDs are not transmitted by condom-protected vaginal or anal intercourse."
"STDs are not transmitted by unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse" ?? Typo, I presume? Or am I not reading that right (it is really late, after all)?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your judgment about whether or not these minor changes to your penile skinare due to vigorous masturbation is better than my guess. For sore neither HPV nor any other DTD is responsible-- and STDs are the only topic for this forum. If you remain concerned about it, visit a doctor or clinic.
Hi Doctor,
I apologize for the follow up question, but it's provoked more by my anxiety than anything. I now have noticed very tiny red/flesh colored bumps on the glans of my penis. There are quite a few and are concentrated mostly in one area, but are not growing in the cauliflower pattern that would suggest warts. Could this be caused by irritation when masturbating, or something else? Thank you for your help, this will be my last question as I understand that you have no obligation to answer follow ups.
I apologize for the follow up question, but it's provoked more by my anxiety than anything. I now have noticed very tiny red/flesh colored bumps on the glans of my penis. There are quite a few and are concentrated mostly in one area, but are not growing in the cauliflower pattern that would suggest warts. Could this be caused by irritation when masturbating, or something else? Thank you for your help, this will be my last question as I understand that you have no obligation to answer follow ups.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I'll try to help. However, it is clear from your many posts on the STD community forum that you are unusually concerned about STDs, especially since all the sexual exposure you describe carry little or no risk. STDs are not transmitted by unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse; much less commonly by oral sex; and not at all by kissing, fingering, or hand-genital contact.
As for HPV, almost everybody gets is and you can't avoid it. Getting genital HPV, at least once, is a normal part of human sexuality. It is not true that if HPV is diagnosed in your partner she would know you have been unfaithful. If she has ever had sex with anyone else, those other person(s) are equally likely as sources of infection. Many HPV infections are first detected several years after catching them. For these reasons, it is rarely possible to know when and where any HPV infection was acquired. To your specific questions:
1) There are no formal definitions of high risk or low risk exposure for HPV. As implied above, there little or no risk except from unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
2) The exposure described carried little or no HPV risk, regardless of chafing from recent masturbation.
3,4) There are generally no "warning signs" at all, since over 90% of HPV infections cause no symptoms at all. Therefore, HPV usually is not clear or easy to recognize. If you develop obvious warts or abnormal skin bumps of the penis, get examined professionally. Minor variations in skin appearance that are visible only when the skin is stretched almost always are normal, not warts or other HPV infection. And by the way, warts show up later than most people seem to think. Typically it takes at least 3 months and usually 6-12 months before visible warts appear.
5) Based on the encounters described and the apparently normal appearance of your penile skin, it is "safe" for you to stop worrying about these incidents right now. But if you are convinced your penile skin is abnormal, see a health care provider.
Bottom line: mellow out about HPV. It's not worth the anxiety you are feeling about it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
As for HPV, almost everybody gets is and you can't avoid it. Getting genital HPV, at least once, is a normal part of human sexuality. It is not true that if HPV is diagnosed in your partner she would know you have been unfaithful. If she has ever had sex with anyone else, those other person(s) are equally likely as sources of infection. Many HPV infections are first detected several years after catching them. For these reasons, it is rarely possible to know when and where any HPV infection was acquired. To your specific questions:
1) There are no formal definitions of high risk or low risk exposure for HPV. As implied above, there little or no risk except from unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
2) The exposure described carried little or no HPV risk, regardless of chafing from recent masturbation.
3,4) There are generally no "warning signs" at all, since over 90% of HPV infections cause no symptoms at all. Therefore, HPV usually is not clear or easy to recognize. If you develop obvious warts or abnormal skin bumps of the penis, get examined professionally. Minor variations in skin appearance that are visible only when the skin is stretched almost always are normal, not warts or other HPV infection. And by the way, warts show up later than most people seem to think. Typically it takes at least 3 months and usually 6-12 months before visible warts appear.
5) Based on the encounters described and the apparently normal appearance of your penile skin, it is "safe" for you to stop worrying about these incidents right now. But if you are convinced your penile skin is abnormal, see a health care provider.
Bottom line: mellow out about HPV. It's not worth the anxiety you are feeling about it.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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.
