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Avatar universal

New HPV infection at 40

Hi folks, great forum!

I had a query around HPV later in life. If a male had a fairly active sexual history, say 50 female partners by the age of 40, what chance is there of catching an HPV infection that was not already caught? (from a one time exposure to an infected source) My clinic tells me this is not possible. I don't understand how they can be sure of this. Is this really not possible?

Also, if the immune system clears 90% what happens to the other 10? Can we remain infectious forever? Thanks
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Avatar universal
Can nobody advise on this? Is 2 years abstaining from sex long enough to resume unprotected sex with a future partner? If there have been no symptoms in that period. Most studies state the mean time to clear high risk HPV 16 is 6 months in men. 12 months for men and woman
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I meant 6 months for 18. It's 12 for 16
Avatar universal
One other question on this, they say 2 years most people clear 90% of infections - which infections remain in men after 2 years? baring in mind you cannot test for high risk.

Would someone with no symptoms be regarded as clear if they abstain from sex for 2 years and have no symptoms regardless of HPV history??



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With no visible warts, it is possible to have sex (safe or unsafe) after 1-2 years of abstaining. However, no one knows if you would ever become infectious again or not. Sometimes life changes that affect one's immune system can affect your status.
Avatar universal
Thanks for the reply Dave. The clinic told me I was at no risk due to amount of previous partners and my age. That statistically I would be immune at this point in life. I just wanted a second opinion. Is this view not held by the wider community? Thanks again
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Your clinic advice does not jive with what the CDC says. Every partner is a 20% risk per the CDC and they say that at 80% (4 partners), it is probable that you have been exposed to it. At 50 partners, the odds are extremely high. There is no immunity to HPV because there are over 100 strains. Which means you could have 10 strains and still get more strains from a new partners. Clearing a virus means your body fought it and made it dormant. The virus never leaves the body. It is there forever.

Without symptoms (visible warts) and without a test for men, it is impossible for men to say they have HPV. But you should consider yourself high risk due to the number of partners. Some people have warts under the skin which are not visible. High risk strains that can cause cancer do not show any symptoms. You should also call some of your former partners to see if they ever had a bad pap result before they met you, while they dated you and soon after. A bad pap result before they met you means they passed it onto you, if it was a different strain. A bad pap result after you means you may have infected them.

Please educate yourself on HPV. Please do not consider yourself lucky or totally clean when you meet new partners. It is statistically impossible for you to be HPV-free. What you should say is that you have not been diagnosed with a positive result but statistically it is impossible for you to not have it.  Stick with one partner and you will reduce the odds of infection and infecting others.


https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/whatishpv.html
Thanks for that. It does make sense what you are saying. I don't think the term they used was immune just that if I had multiple partners I would have been exposed to strain already and therefore I cannot catch them again. It's one help of a confusing subject. Thanks for your lengthy and informative comments!
3149845 tn?1506627771
Hi Genital HPV is contracted but direct rubbing of a genital wart  so its possible to contact it at any age. What are the risks? very low if there was not obvious wart at the time.
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