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This question may seem a little redundant, but I think that if I have a chance to discuss this issue a little with you and others I will get this out of my mind. I have had protected vaginal sex with approximately seventeen females in my life. Of those seventeen females I have had unprotected vaginal sex with about six of them at least once. None of these women have been very promiscuous (as far as I know) and at any rate I have tested negative for everything including HSV-2.
I have a major hang up about whether I could have contracted genital HPV in any of my encounters. Would you find it safe to say that it would have been essentially impossible for me not to have? And I guess as you say I shouldn't worry about it regardless. I guess I am asking so that I don't worry about "that one encounter when I could have contracted HPV" when if the disease is so ubiquitous there were probably many encounters when I was exposed to it and I should just drop the issue.
I have a major hang up about whether I could have contracted genital HPV in any of my encounters. Would you find it safe to say that it would have been essentially impossible for me not to have? And I guess as you say I shouldn't worry about it regardless. I guess I am asking so that I don't worry about "that one encounter when I could have contracted HPV" when if the disease is so ubiquitous there were probably many encounters when I was exposed to it and I should just drop the issue.
Did your gyn give you any advice about telling any recent sexual partners or was that a non-issue? And would you as a female (or your friends) care if you found out that a new boyfriend recently had a partner who might have had an abnormal pap? Or is it something that you choose not to worry about?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
jezzie is right that many (most?) ObGs and primary care docs "are not that knowledgeable" about HPV. But your own docs seem to be pretty good; I agree with everything you say they told you.
clyd3c: Those are among the most basic, simple questions about HPV. Read the article on HPV/warts in the link at the top of this forum "STD Quick Facts and Articles" and/or search the forum archives for "HPV" and/or "human papillomavirus".
HHH, MD
clyd3c: Those are among the most basic, simple questions about HPV. Read the article on HPV/warts in the link at the top of this forum "STD Quick Facts and Articles" and/or search the forum archives for "HPV" and/or "human papillomavirus".
HHH, MD
I just wanted to respond to this thread from a female point of view. I was diagnosed with HPV several years ago and I can tell you that gynocologists and GPs do not look at HPV as a serious threat unless your pap shows up abnormal. Then they treat it and tell you to come back for 6 month follow-up appointments. Once you have 2 consecutive "normal" pap's, they tell you to move on, things are good. I have gone to some extremely reputable gynocologists near a very major city and they just don't look at HPV as a big deal. On the other hand, if you are diagnosed with genital warts, they really look at that as more of an inconvenience than a health threat. When I asked my doctor specific questions about HPV, she didn't really know much and said it's not all that important. What is important is to have annual exams and nothing more. She told me if I was worried about passing or getting HPV, "just have safe sex, it's not that big of a deal" and not a serious health threat. 99% of what I have learned about HPV has been from my own research and this site. Unless you go to a doctor that is educated specifically in STDs, they just are not that knowledgable about this.
"Except for those few couples in whom neither partner has ever had other sex with anyone else, HPV infection is almost inevitable in most partnerships (whether or not it is ever diagnosed)." - (quote from HHH to curious57.
Is it possible to have this infection without sexual contact?
Can a mother infected with HPV pass on the virus at delivery to her baby girl? (i.e. the HPV strain that causes the atypical cervical cells).
Is it possible to have this infection without sexual contact?
Can a mother infected with HPV pass on the virus at delivery to her baby girl? (i.e. the HPV strain that causes the atypical cervical cells).
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Excellent question. HPV is like herpes: HPV and HSV-2 risks and prevalence are not much affected by education level and socioeconomic status, unlike gonorrhea, for example. The likelihood of HPV is just as high in affluent suburbia and Yale graduates as in the inner city or (say) Job Corps enrollees.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Ok, I know that this rarely ever comes up in this forum.
But I was wondering. . . does socioeconomic status have much to do with these HPV numbers? I keep on hearing if you have had sex with at least three people you probably have HPV, but does that apply to everyone?
I've been around the block and I have been assuming (per HHH) that I have had HPV at one time in my life. However, does this epidemiology hold up in a large city among a white collar population (that is probably older and more sexually experienced)? I could see this arguement going both ways. . .
But I was wondering. . . does socioeconomic status have much to do with these HPV numbers? I keep on hearing if you have had sex with at least three people you probably have HPV, but does that apply to everyone?
I've been around the block and I have been assuming (per HHH) that I have had HPV at one time in my life. However, does this epidemiology hold up in a large city among a white collar population (that is probably older and more sexually experienced)? I could see this arguement going both ways. . .
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I cannot generalize on gynecologists' counseling strategies, except to suspect that it varies all over the map. Some barely recognize that HPV is sexually transmitted, others are very up to date; some have good and others poor understanding of risks to partners, transmission probabilities, etc.
Don't worry about being an HPV "carrier". In general, couples should never get into accusations about which partner was infected first and who infected whom, which usually is impossible to know anyway. Except for those few couples in whom neither partner has ever had other sex with anyone else, HPV infection is almost inevitable in most partnerships (whether or not it is ever diagnosed). When HPV does come to diagnosis, the proper stance is to to understand three things: 1) both members of the couple are sharing an impersonal virus; 2) properly managed, it probably will never do significant harm; 3) neither partner is at fault.
Just look at HPV as a normal, inevitable event in most sexually active people. Not desirable, perhaps, but normal and expected.
HHH, MD
Don't worry about being an HPV "carrier". In general, couples should never get into accusations about which partner was infected first and who infected whom, which usually is impossible to know anyway. Except for those few couples in whom neither partner has ever had other sex with anyone else, HPV infection is almost inevitable in most partnerships (whether or not it is ever diagnosed). When HPV does come to diagnosis, the proper stance is to to understand three things: 1) both members of the couple are sharing an impersonal virus; 2) properly managed, it probably will never do significant harm; 3) neither partner is at fault.
Just look at HPV as a normal, inevitable event in most sexually active people. Not desirable, perhaps, but normal and expected.
HHH, MD
Ok, last question from me.
What is the perspective of gynecologists when counseling (if they even do) their HPV+ patients, especially those outside committed relationships? Is it similar to STD experts. . . that everyone gets it?
I don't want to blow this off now and then be accused of infecting someone. In addition, I don't want to become a carrier (infected by someone ignorant of the disease who hasn't had it explained to her) and spread it to other females.
What is the perspective of gynecologists when counseling (if they even do) their HPV+ patients, especially those outside committed relationships? Is it similar to STD experts. . . that everyone gets it?
I don't want to blow this off now and then be accused of infecting someone. In addition, I don't want to become a carrier (infected by someone ignorant of the disease who hasn't had it explained to her) and spread it to other females.
Forget about it. Same as worrying about whether you have left the gas on or not.....not a constructive use of your time.
If you have had 3 or more partners in your life time, you most likely contracted HPV. There are many strains of it, however, I don't believe there is a test for men. Unless you have contracted strains 6 or 11, (the kind that cause genital warts,) you will never know. Even if you have those strains, you may never develop any warts so you still wont know. I think you should just drop the issue. You are worrying over something you simply won't find answers too. (Without the visible symptom of course.)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Statistically, the odds are you have been infected with HPV, probably more than once.
"And I guess as you say I shouldn't worry about it regardless. I guess I am asking so that I don't worry about 'that one encounter when I could have contracted HPV' when if the disease is so ubiquitous there were probably many encounters when I was exposed to it and I should just drop the issue."
You know me pretty well. I couldn't have worded better. I hope this indeed will help you "get this out of my mind".
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
"And I guess as you say I shouldn't worry about it regardless. I guess I am asking so that I don't worry about 'that one encounter when I could have contracted HPV' when if the disease is so ubiquitous there were probably many encounters when I was exposed to it and I should just drop the issue."
You know me pretty well. I couldn't have worded better. I hope this indeed will help you "get this out of my mind".
Best wishes-- 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.
