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Possible Exposure to Genital Warts
I am female and have a couple questions.
Over a year ago (stopped seeing this person in September of 2015), I dated someone who had active genital warts. We never had sex because of this. Before I knew he actually had warts (he first just told me HPV), we hooked up, but all we did was mutually masturbate and he gave me oral sex. I do believe his bare penis "poked" me toward the bottom of my vaginal area near my anus for maybe a second.
After I knew he had warts, I tried to make sure that when we mutually masturbated with each other, that I did not touch myself after touching him and vice versa.
From what I have read, and I have read a lot, this type of activity is pretty low risk.
I waited around 3-6 months to have actual penis-in-vagina intercourse with anyone else.
I have never informed a partner of my potential infection, because I have not shown symptoms and it seemed like two little of a possibility.
It should be mentioned that I have OCD. It is hard for me to know if my anxiety is a normal level of worrying or if it is excessive.
I'm now in a more serious relationship. Is this something I should mention?
On another note and even before the encounter I described above, I once had a couple of bumps when being examined and my PA thought it could possibly be molluscum. She wasn't sure, so I scheduled another appointment with a doctor the next day. That doctor wasn't sure either. She thought they could just be ingrown hairs or molluscum and I remember her even saying it could be HPV, but she couldn't tell for sure. I had her freeze them off because I am very paranoid. She never offered to do a biopsy. I asked her at the time if I needed to inform future partners and she told me no. Was that the right advice? I actually did inform my current partner about this instance. I had totally forgotten that she had mentioned HPV and recently remembered and felt like I should say something even though I was told I didn't need to.
Anyway, I'm mostly trying to make sure I don't need to disclose the instance I described at the beginning of this. I really don't think I do. It's been over a year and we never even had sex. But my head is spinning about it. It's not that I'm ever trying to be dishonest. I don't disclose it because I think my anxiety makes more out of the situation than warranted. I decided to submit a question because I have read so many things and they don't really apply to my situation.
Thank you
Over a year ago (stopped seeing this person in September of 2015), I dated someone who had active genital warts. We never had sex because of this. Before I knew he actually had warts (he first just told me HPV), we hooked up, but all we did was mutually masturbate and he gave me oral sex. I do believe his bare penis "poked" me toward the bottom of my vaginal area near my anus for maybe a second.
After I knew he had warts, I tried to make sure that when we mutually masturbated with each other, that I did not touch myself after touching him and vice versa.
From what I have read, and I have read a lot, this type of activity is pretty low risk.
I waited around 3-6 months to have actual penis-in-vagina intercourse with anyone else.
I have never informed a partner of my potential infection, because I have not shown symptoms and it seemed like two little of a possibility.
It should be mentioned that I have OCD. It is hard for me to know if my anxiety is a normal level of worrying or if it is excessive.
I'm now in a more serious relationship. Is this something I should mention?
On another note and even before the encounter I described above, I once had a couple of bumps when being examined and my PA thought it could possibly be molluscum. She wasn't sure, so I scheduled another appointment with a doctor the next day. That doctor wasn't sure either. She thought they could just be ingrown hairs or molluscum and I remember her even saying it could be HPV, but she couldn't tell for sure. I had her freeze them off because I am very paranoid. She never offered to do a biopsy. I asked her at the time if I needed to inform future partners and she told me no. Was that the right advice? I actually did inform my current partner about this instance. I had totally forgotten that she had mentioned HPV and recently remembered and felt like I should say something even though I was told I didn't need to.
Anyway, I'm mostly trying to make sure I don't need to disclose the instance I described at the beginning of this. I really don't think I do. It's been over a year and we never even had sex. But my head is spinning about it. It's not that I'm ever trying to be dishonest. I don't disclose it because I think my anxiety makes more out of the situation than warranted. I decided to submit a question because I have read so many things and they don't really apply to my situation.
Thank you
Two things: Visual diagnosis isn't sufficient. The doctor should have biopsied one of them to be sure. If you ever get more bumps, ask for a biopsy and ask for them to identify the strain too. Assume for now they were not HPV esp if they never came back.
In terms of "very clean" partners, this is a half truth for men because men cannot be tested for HPV and the absence of genital warts does not mean the men don't have it. Heck, high risk HPV has no symptoms for men (or women) until cancerous cells or pre-cancerous cells are found. Please never assume "very clean" men know what they are talking about. Half of all sexually active men and women who have no symptoms have HPV. Even if they slept with very few women, all it takes is just one. Every partner is a 20% risk. The CDC says at 80%, you probably have it. Do the math.
In terms of "very clean" partners, this is a half truth for men because men cannot be tested for HPV and the absence of genital warts does not mean the men don't have it. Heck, high risk HPV has no symptoms for men (or women) until cancerous cells or pre-cancerous cells are found. Please never assume "very clean" men know what they are talking about. Half of all sexually active men and women who have no symptoms have HPV. Even if they slept with very few women, all it takes is just one. Every partner is a 20% risk. The CDC says at 80%, you probably have it. Do the math.
1 Comments
I realize they probably had some form of hpv, I'm just talking about GW. One partner was someone I had been with for over 4 years with no issues, so I find it unlikely that I didn't catch them from him until then. The other was a female. I guess it is possible that she had them and didn't know but also seems a little unlikely. Thanks for your advice!
No need to say anything. What you did is very very safe.
2 Comments
What about the bumps that weren't really diagnosed? Is that something I should disclose in the future? I don't want to unjustifiably make someone worry. I only had 2 partners before they were found and both of them were clean (I asked and I trust them - not strangers). So I fell like most likely, it was nothing. But still, I've never informed any partners since about it. I recently talked to my doctor from 2 years ago and she still was hazy on advice. To calm me down, she said something like "Oh you seem savvy and discerning. When you get to that point, just explain." And then I had to explain to her that I was fairly sexually active and I had not said anything to anyone because she said I didn't have to. By the end of the appointment, I said "I would feel better not telling because I don't want to someone to freak out about a hypothetical infection." And then she just said "I think that is well-reasoned." So I left equally confused.
I'd be interested in hearing your input on my follow up question if you have anything to add @veryworried420
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