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HPV genital warts
Hello there.
I was wondering if you could provide me with some reassurance.
from my reading, genital warts from oral sex is extremely rare. I have recievied oral sex seven times and given oral sex 5 times. (this is with men) I have also had anal sex roughly five times where I was on top and protected.
I just want to know about the possibility of genital warts through the protected intercourse.
If genital warts appear on the penis, (that is what I have gathered from reading the other posts) if the sex was protected does this mean there is limited chance of contracting genital warts? my last protected exposure was 5 months, the one before that six months before that.
from reading this post, it is suggested by Dr Hook, that it takes weeks or months not years for warts to appear (http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-Warts-Worry/show/1491625).
based on my limited protected exposure, am I very low risk for having warts and the fact that I have not displayed symtpoms as of yet, promising that I do not have the warts?
Thanks so much.
I was wondering if you could provide me with some reassurance.
from my reading, genital warts from oral sex is extremely rare. I have recievied oral sex seven times and given oral sex 5 times. (this is with men) I have also had anal sex roughly five times where I was on top and protected.
I just want to know about the possibility of genital warts through the protected intercourse.
If genital warts appear on the penis, (that is what I have gathered from reading the other posts) if the sex was protected does this mean there is limited chance of contracting genital warts? my last protected exposure was 5 months, the one before that six months before that.
from reading this post, it is suggested by Dr Hook, that it takes weeks or months not years for warts to appear (http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-Warts-Worry/show/1491625).
based on my limited protected exposure, am I very low risk for having warts and the fact that I have not displayed symtpoms as of yet, promising that I do not have the warts?
Thanks so much.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The studies involve sexually people who are tested regularly (e.g. every 1-3 months) for HPV. After a new positive result for HPV types 6 or 11 -- the main causes of warts -- the average time before visible warts appear is 6-8 months, and in a few people it stretches yout to 2 years. To my knowledge, there are no obvious differences between those persons and those with earlier appearance of warts, but as far as I know, the researchers have not carefully analyzed their data to look for predictors of early versus delayed warts. Most likely it's just randcom, with no specific cause.
I already confirmed your belief that condoms are highly protective and you can assume you were 100% protected by condom use, especially because you have had only oral sex. However, in the months people are infected with HPV, the virus often spreads to nearby areas, perhaps by hand contact. Therefore, if you caught HPV in a skin area not covered by the condom, warts probably could appear months later elsewhere in the genital area, including the covered part of the penis.
It is unknown whether HPV associated with overt, visible warts is more transmissible than an asymptomatic infection without warts. Probably yes, but really no way to know; and certainly there is some transmission potential in the absence of visible warts.
You are really laser-beamed on this, aren't you? Why? Warts and HPV are generally trivial health conditions that clear up on their own without causing serious health problems. This isn't worth the worries you obviously have about it. As a gay man, you will be at relatively high risk for a few truly harmful conditions and one potentially fatal one, and the risks of serious health outcomes are much higher than for HPV. In any case, this thread is over; I won't have any more comments.
I already confirmed your belief that condoms are highly protective and you can assume you were 100% protected by condom use, especially because you have had only oral sex. However, in the months people are infected with HPV, the virus often spreads to nearby areas, perhaps by hand contact. Therefore, if you caught HPV in a skin area not covered by the condom, warts probably could appear months later elsewhere in the genital area, including the covered part of the penis.
It is unknown whether HPV associated with overt, visible warts is more transmissible than an asymptomatic infection without warts. Probably yes, but really no way to know; and certainly there is some transmission potential in the absence of visible warts.
You are really laser-beamed on this, aren't you? Why? Warts and HPV are generally trivial health conditions that clear up on their own without causing serious health problems. This isn't worth the worries you obviously have about it. As a gay man, you will be at relatively high risk for a few truly harmful conditions and one potentially fatal one, and the risks of serious health outcomes are much higher than for HPV. In any case, this thread is over; I won't have any more comments.
Thank you for that comprehensive response.
I have a couple follow up questions. In regards to this recent research taking up to 6-8 months and potentially 2 years, in what circumstances would it take up to 2 years? I read on an earlier post that it would that it would take up to two years in cases where one did have a compromised immune system.
Also, as I stated above, because the intercourse has always been protected with a condom, does this reduce my exposure to the virus? I read that genital warts break out on the penis and if my penis is covered then, assuming there is no condom related issue, this should greatly limit my chances of acquiring genital warts?
You stated that: "With condom-protected vaginal or anal intercourse, there is some risk due to skin contact above the parts of the penis covered by condoms."
would the genital warts appear in that area then not the covered penis?
Finally, if one is displaying no symptoms, does this reduce the chance of the virus spreading to unaffected individuals?
Thank you.
I have a couple follow up questions. In regards to this recent research taking up to 6-8 months and potentially 2 years, in what circumstances would it take up to 2 years? I read on an earlier post that it would that it would take up to two years in cases where one did have a compromised immune system.
Also, as I stated above, because the intercourse has always been protected with a condom, does this reduce my exposure to the virus? I read that genital warts break out on the penis and if my penis is covered then, assuming there is no condom related issue, this should greatly limit my chances of acquiring genital warts?
You stated that: "With condom-protected vaginal or anal intercourse, there is some risk due to skin contact above the parts of the penis covered by condoms."
would the genital warts appear in that area then not the covered penis?
Finally, if one is displaying no symptoms, does this reduce the chance of the virus spreading to unaffected individuals?
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
See above. Also to clarify my opening comment, for condom-protected oral sex, you can safely assume there is zero risk of acquiring HPV or any other STD.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
It is correct that genital warts probably are rarely acquired by oral-genital exposure. With condom-protected vaginal or anal intercourse, there is some risk due to skin contact above the parts of the penis covered by condoms. The chance of infection probably is low for any particular exposure, but assuming you remain sexually active with other men -- and especially if your exposures get beyond oral-only to involve anal intercourse, you can expect to catch a genital or anal area HPV infection someday. It happens to everyone and is essentially unavoidable. Fortunately, the large majority of infections never cause symptoms and clear up on their own, never to cause any sort of health problem. And you can protect yourself from the most common health problems by getting immunized with Gardasil, the vaccine that prevents infection with the 2 HPV types that cause 70% of genital/anal cancers and 90% of warts.
It used to be said that when people develop noticeable genital warts, they typically show up in 2-6 months. More recent research has extended that interval; 6-8 months is the average, and it can take up to a couple of years. However, since warts are a minor inconvenience, not an important health threat; and because you have had such low risk exposures with respect to HPV warts, I strongly urge you to stop examining your penis and stop worrying about it. If you develop warts, you will know it on casual inspection; and at that time you can be treated effectively.
As for your follow-up question below, there is no evidence that having a cold or other minor insults to the immune system have any effect of any kind on catching HPV, developing warts, or clearance of warts once they appear. This also isn't worth a moment's worry.
Based on both this discussion and your recent one on the HIV international forum, it appears you are greatly over-concerned about STDs and HIV, in relation to you entirely safe sexual practices until now. The important risks will come if and when you start having anal sex with other men. Even then, if you use condoms consistently and avoid sex with men who are HIV positive, don't know, or seem evasive about it, your risks will remain quite low. (This means you should have a discussion about HIV with every partner, before having any contact at all, even safe sex -- because condoms do fail, and sometimes intentions to remain safe go by the wayside in the heat of the moment.) You should endeavor to not let STDs and HIV overly interfere with romance and a fulfilling sex life.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
It is correct that genital warts probably are rarely acquired by oral-genital exposure. With condom-protected vaginal or anal intercourse, there is some risk due to skin contact above the parts of the penis covered by condoms. The chance of infection probably is low for any particular exposure, but assuming you remain sexually active with other men -- and especially if your exposures get beyond oral-only to involve anal intercourse, you can expect to catch a genital or anal area HPV infection someday. It happens to everyone and is essentially unavoidable. Fortunately, the large majority of infections never cause symptoms and clear up on their own, never to cause any sort of health problem. And you can protect yourself from the most common health problems by getting immunized with Gardasil, the vaccine that prevents infection with the 2 HPV types that cause 70% of genital/anal cancers and 90% of warts.
It used to be said that when people develop noticeable genital warts, they typically show up in 2-6 months. More recent research has extended that interval; 6-8 months is the average, and it can take up to a couple of years. However, since warts are a minor inconvenience, not an important health threat; and because you have had such low risk exposures with respect to HPV warts, I strongly urge you to stop examining your penis and stop worrying about it. If you develop warts, you will know it on casual inspection; and at that time you can be treated effectively.
As for your follow-up question below, there is no evidence that having a cold or other minor insults to the immune system have any effect of any kind on catching HPV, developing warts, or clearance of warts once they appear. This also isn't worth a moment's worry.
Based on both this discussion and your recent one on the HIV international forum, it appears you are greatly over-concerned about STDs and HIV, in relation to you entirely safe sexual practices until now. The important risks will come if and when you start having anal sex with other men. Even then, if you use condoms consistently and avoid sex with men who are HIV positive, don't know, or seem evasive about it, your risks will remain quite low. (This means you should have a discussion about HIV with every partner, before having any contact at all, even safe sex -- because condoms do fail, and sometimes intentions to remain safe go by the wayside in the heat of the moment.) You should endeavor to not let STDs and HIV overly interfere with romance and a fulfilling sex life.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Meant to ask, if I had a weak immune system would the warts have appeared earlier? I don't think that I have a weak immune system.
Basically, what I am trying to ask, but not doing it too clearly, is if i developed a cold or caught a virus would my weakened immune system cause an outbreak of warts if I had them? I have never had an outbreak when I have had a cold or a virus - hoping this suggests further evidence as to the fact that i do not have genital warts.
Basically, what I am trying to ask, but not doing it too clearly, is if i developed a cold or caught a virus would my weakened immune system cause an outbreak of warts if I had them? I have never had an outbreak when I have had a cold or a virus - hoping this suggests further evidence as to the fact that i do not have genital warts.
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.
