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HPV question for Dr. Handsfield
Hi Dr. Handsfield,
I saw your posts on medhelp.org about HPV. Specifically this one:
[http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-prevention-what-are-my-odds/show/245023]. I have found out that a former girlfriend of mine had HPV before we dated. This was 2.5 years ago at this point. She had an abnormal Pap
smear, followed with an HPV DNA screening which gave a positive result. The sixth month follow up Pap still showed very low grade LSIL, and the following one was clear. An HPV DNA test with the Certivsta test showed no evidence of any more HPV DNA. We began to date after all this happened, but only by a matter of months. My
question to you is if sexual contact with her could've infected me with HPV? I have read that once HPV is cleared _unaided_, it is considered noncommunicable. I understand the concern for my own health is minimal, as penile
cancer is extremely rare. I want to get married someday, and I want to be totally open and honest with my wife. I would like to know just how likely it is that I could've gotten HPV from this episode in my life. We used condoms on all but one lamentable occasion. I take reassurance in the fact that it is experts saying the contagiousness of the disease is extremely small after the immune system clears an infection, and only sites like Yahoo Answers saying anything to the contrary. I'm a bit of an academic (but not in medicine), so any technical information or even papers you can provide would be greatly appreciated. And I wish to sincerely thank you for taking the time to answer questions online. I appreciate a sane voice amidst misinformation. Thanks and I look forward to your response, -Josh
I saw your posts on medhelp.org about HPV. Specifically this one:
[http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/HPV-prevention-what-are-my-odds/show/245023]. I have found out that a former girlfriend of mine had HPV before we dated. This was 2.5 years ago at this point. She had an abnormal Pap
smear, followed with an HPV DNA screening which gave a positive result. The sixth month follow up Pap still showed very low grade LSIL, and the following one was clear. An HPV DNA test with the Certivsta test showed no evidence of any more HPV DNA. We began to date after all this happened, but only by a matter of months. My
question to you is if sexual contact with her could've infected me with HPV? I have read that once HPV is cleared _unaided_, it is considered noncommunicable. I understand the concern for my own health is minimal, as penile
cancer is extremely rare. I want to get married someday, and I want to be totally open and honest with my wife. I would like to know just how likely it is that I could've gotten HPV from this episode in my life. We used condoms on all but one lamentable occasion. I take reassurance in the fact that it is experts saying the contagiousness of the disease is extremely small after the immune system clears an infection, and only sites like Yahoo Answers saying anything to the contrary. I'm a bit of an academic (but not in medicine), so any technical information or even papers you can provide would be greatly appreciated. And I wish to sincerely thank you for taking the time to answer questions online. I appreciate a sane voice amidst misinformation. Thanks and I look forward to your response, -Josh
If you want to speak to Dr Handsfield then you have to post in the DRs forum and pay $20. This forum is filled with volunteers and is free. As I'm here I'll answer your questions anyway but feel free to go to the DRs forum afterwards.
As most people clear the virus and the majority do not experience symptoms after after 2 years, it is more likely that you had relations with her at a time when she was unable to transmit the virus due to the virus laying dormant in her system. The fact that the following PAP before you got together backs this up, and it would be unlikely for you to of contracted the virus.
Also you used a condom every time but once, which lowers your chances of transmition dramatically. So combining this with sexual contact at a time when the virus was laying dormant in her system means you have a very good chance of not catching the virus.
You are also right in thinking the penile cancers are rare, and therefore the high risk HP virus is much less predominant in men than in women. In women it rarely turns into cancer unless left untreated for sometime, and it usually takes many years to form into something so serious. It is even less of a problem for men
As most people clear the virus and the majority do not experience symptoms after after 2 years, it is more likely that you had relations with her at a time when she was unable to transmit the virus due to the virus laying dormant in her system. The fact that the following PAP before you got together backs this up, and it would be unlikely for you to of contracted the virus.
Also you used a condom every time but once, which lowers your chances of transmition dramatically. So combining this with sexual contact at a time when the virus was laying dormant in her system means you have a very good chance of not catching the virus.
You are also right in thinking the penile cancers are rare, and therefore the high risk HP virus is much less predominant in men than in women. In women it rarely turns into cancer unless left untreated for sometime, and it usually takes many years to form into something so serious. It is even less of a problem for men
Wrong forum. He doesn't respond here. You need to pay $20 and repost on the doctor's forum for STDs.
If I was to guess what he would say, it would be something like this: The risks are very unlikely that you got infected (you dated her a few months after her neg test, condoms most of the time, one time unsafe sex). He's also going to say not to stress about it since everyone who is sexually active has it or will have it since condoms are only 70% effective. Including the woman you may marry someday unless she is a virgin. Sorry to be a buzz kill but this is what they like to say to everyone about this STD on the doctor's forum. To them, HPV is no big deal and if you are sexually active, you are already exposed.
If I was to guess what he would say, it would be something like this: The risks are very unlikely that you got infected (you dated her a few months after her neg test, condoms most of the time, one time unsafe sex). He's also going to say not to stress about it since everyone who is sexually active has it or will have it since condoms are only 70% effective. Including the woman you may marry someday unless she is a virgin. Sorry to be a buzz kill but this is what they like to say to everyone about this STD on the doctor's forum. To them, HPV is no big deal and if you are sexually active, you are already exposed.
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
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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.
