10 years free from warts, still contagious?

[10yearfree]

I had one wart, at the very base of the topside of my penis 10 years ago.  Treated by a doctor with condylox, and have never had another wart since.  I have only had one monogamous partner since getting that one wart, but we have since split up, and am unsure, ethically, whether I need to tell future partners or not.  I have a very strong immune system and rarely ever get colds or the flu, so I'm assuming my body has fought and beaten the virus in as much as causing me to get new warts, but after 10 years of no symptoms, am I still at risk for passing this on to someone else, or can I safely consider myself no longer at risk for spreading it and put it all behind me?

[ldissc]

In my opinion, your situation is about as good as it gets for someone with a "history" of genital warts. Only ONE wart 10 years ago? In my unprofessional opinion I'd say you're good to go.

[napoleon414]

A doctor told me that if I am wart free for 3 years than I don't have to worry about it anymore. A dermatologist says that when the warts are gone so is the virus. My nutritionist says that the virus will be so supressed that I won't pass it on. But I also heard doctors say you can't never get rid of it. My question is if there are no test to take to see whether you are negative or positive how can they say whether you still have it or not?

[OKsureGood]

Here's an answer given by a doctor regarding the same issue (very reassuring).  Looks like you don't have much to worry about...  see the link to the actual thread below:

by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM
Very few people are able to transmit HPV to their partners more than several months after their infections clear up.  There is almost no chance you are at risk for catching your partner's distant past warts infection.

HHH, MD


Here's the link to the original thread: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Transmission-of-Genital-warts/show/248744

[Loki117]

I have nothing really to say other than to agree with KCheese. Sentement is that HPV can be gone in as little as 3 months and with 200 different strains it is almost impossible to avoid.

If it was me and the wart is gone and nothing has happened in 10 years I would consider myself clear and thus it is a mute point.

[KCheese]

Legally speaking, you do not have to tell your partners you have HPV in the United States. This is mainly cause there is no testing for men, no cure, and also its just abnormal skin growth.

There is absolutely no health effect and the lack of ability for detecting is the reason why HPV is one of the most common STDs.

Your immune system is suppose to be able to suppress the HPV after the initial year or so. The most common stance or safe stance, would be that if you do not have a HPV recurrent infection for 2 years, then your immune system has suppressed it and it is not contagious anymore.

This is a general guideline, but due to the lack of available testing in men, there is no way to prove this beyond having scientific studies of people having intercourse with each other to see how much %% get HPV.

In summary, and maybe another opinion from someone else on the forum,
it is safe to say, you are no longer contagious if you have not had any recurrent outbreaks for a decade.