Latency and likelihood of recent transmission - warts and abnormal pap

[JamesJarman]

I am a male who was a virgin when I began a monogamous relationship with my female partner, and who had very little sexual activity with anyone else (no oral sex, fondling, etc. with others).  However, my partner had several previous sexual partners.

After ten years, genital warts started to appear on the shaft of my penis near the head, which continued to proliferate for the next year until I had them removed.  About eight months after my warts started to appear, my partner had her first abnormal pap, followed by a cervical sample being taken and tested in the lab for possible cancer (negative).  She has been confirmed HPV positive.  She has not shown any signs of genital warts.

I recently found some evidence of possible infidelity occurring about 4 to 6 months prior to me noticing the warts.  She also had a normal pap around the time of the possible infidelity (the abnormal one was a year later).

How likely or even possible is it that my partner could have contracted strains of the HPV virus for the abnormal pap and for my genital warts prior to our relationship and for both of them to have been latent for ten years and presented around the same time?  If possible, could issues with her health significantly affect the likelihood?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I am asssuming your penile warts have been professionally diagnosed.  If not, please do that; it isn't something for self-diagnosis, even if you're pretty certain about it.

HPV infection of the cervix, showing up as an abnormal pap smear, sometimes occurs many years after the initial HPV infection.  However, this is uncommon for the wart-causing HPV types.  For most people with new genital warts, one or the other partner has had other sex partners in the few weeks or months before warts appear.  But there are exceptions, and I have no way of judging your particular case.

When latent HPV infections reappear, usually there are no obvious reasons, i.e. it generally is not a sign of another important health problem. However, that might explain a few cases.

Bottom line:  It's up to you whether to press the issue of where this HPV infection came from, who had it first, etc.  If you have no other reason to suspect your partner's fidelity, you might just let it lie.  In any case, the only way to know is by frank discussion with your partner.  No lab test can sort it out.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There are no data on when, why, or under what circumstances this might occur.  All that can be said is that it seems to happen sometimes, but rarely. (And some of those cases might result from people reaching for face-saving excuses or not telling the truth about their sexual exposures.)  No more can be said.  Sorry.

[JamesJarman]

Sorry, I probably wasn't clear in my follow-up post.  I was asking for more info about the exceptions you mentioned.  

My follow up question is - What are the possible/typical exceptions to the statement, "For most people with new genital warts, one or the other partner has had other sex partners in the few weeks or months before warts appear"?

Thanks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your new thread was deleted.  Only a limited number of new questions can be accommodated daily, and redundant ones block other persons with new questions to ask.  Your follow-up question should be asked in the comments section. However, it simply repeats the same question about appearance of genital warts 10 years after being infected with HPV.  (Did you think I might have changed my mind?)  

You also requested physician referra.  This forum doesn't do that.  The best bet is to call your county or state medical society, or visit your local health department STD clinic.

HHH, MD