HPV or other diseases from brief skin to skin genital contact without penetration?

[healthquest10]

My first and second sexual experiences involved skin to skin contact- touching and rubbing of the penis near the vagina and anal opening but did not involve any penetration. The contact was brief. How possible is it that I contracted HPV from these encounters? Oral and digital sex was also performed on me.

I am really nervous about this. Thank you for any advice!

[alexdelong]

Just thought I would add a link to a thread discussing the limited scope of the HPV test

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPVDNA-Test/show/550225

[alexdelong]

It (hand to genital transmission) seems to be a theoretical risk more than anything, but it probably does happen on very rare occasions.

Here are some links to similar discussions on the expert forum:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Transmission-risk/show/1169185
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Genital-To-Hand-Contact/show/383364
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Happy-endings--testing/show/957392

Overall, it doesn't seem to be anything to worry about.

There is a HPV test for women, and it is often done along with the PAP. It isn't conclusive, as it just tests the cervix, but that is the part of the body where HPV is a concern. HPV testing is not often done on young women, because the majority will contract and clear HPV infections without any problems. Some doctors feel that it does not give useful information for young patients. Regular PAPs are recommended for all sexually active women, with HPV testing for older women.


Most people will show symptoms in the months following exposure (if at all), but for some people it can take longer. HPV is a strange virus, and doesn't seem to follow time lines very well.

[healthquest10]

Thank you for your response.

I read a study that said the virus was found on the fingers of many infected by HPV. And it inferred that digital sex may not be safe.

Is it possible to have a test to see if I was infected, without any symptoms? How long after an encounter can you be infected. I know some viruses may have long incubation periods.

[alexdelong]

Possible, but not likely.

On rare occasions, HPV is transmitted through oral sex. Digital sex is safe.
HPV can be passed though non penetrative contract, but it doesn't happen nearly as often as through intercourse. It is thought that the virus "enters" through small breaks in the skin caused by sex. It is "massaged" into the skin. Brief contact will not result in transmission most of the time. The risk is not zero, but it isn't particularly high.

Now that you are sexually active, I would recommend regular PAPs. The HPV vaccine is something else you should consider. It protects against 2 types of HPV that are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and another 2 types that are linked to 90% of genital warts.