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modes of HPV transmission
After browsing around articles on the web, I became concerned about HPV transmission via essentially "casual" ways. Some sources that claim that HPV can infect fingers, ex: http://www.*************.com/drdean/408/21429.html + some posts here, AND that it can be transferred by kissing: http://www.ehow.com/about_5318619_can-hpv-transmitted-kissing.html
I'm mostly concerned about the dangerous strains of HPV, such as those that can lead to cervical, oral, or other cancers.
Qs:
1) Say person A has genital HPV. Person B performs oral sex on person A. Can person B get oral HPV this way (would it be considered the same strain of HPV)? Is this how people contract oral HPV?
2a) If the answer is yes, can that person B transfer it to another person C by kissing?
2b) Can person B transfer it to person C by performing oral sex on them? So is genital -> oral -> genital transmission a possible route?
3) Can HPV be transferred from the genital area to non-genital and non-oral body parts, ex: passing to hands/fingers by touching a vagina of a woman who has HPV? What about touching an aroused woman's underwear (i.e. wet, but no direct contact with her vagina)? If yes in either case, then one can further pass it on to others by simply touching or shaking hands?!
4) What if the finger that was used to touch a person's genital area comes in contact with another non-sexual body part that has a cut on it. Ex: in washing hands, the two hands come together - the left one was used to touch someone's genital area and the right one has a cut (but no bleeding) ?
5) How do people get high risk oral HPV?
So, what DOES one need to worry about and what NOT to worry about? Is this possible: I finger a woman who has HPV -> HPV infects my fingers - > then touch someone else (even much later) and they would get it that way. Is kissing now a dangerous activity?
Thanks!!
P.S. Are there other STDs which CAN be transmitted in this casual way (touching, kissing, etc)?
I'm mostly concerned about the dangerous strains of HPV, such as those that can lead to cervical, oral, or other cancers.
Qs:
1) Say person A has genital HPV. Person B performs oral sex on person A. Can person B get oral HPV this way (would it be considered the same strain of HPV)? Is this how people contract oral HPV?
2a) If the answer is yes, can that person B transfer it to another person C by kissing?
2b) Can person B transfer it to person C by performing oral sex on them? So is genital -> oral -> genital transmission a possible route?
3) Can HPV be transferred from the genital area to non-genital and non-oral body parts, ex: passing to hands/fingers by touching a vagina of a woman who has HPV? What about touching an aroused woman's underwear (i.e. wet, but no direct contact with her vagina)? If yes in either case, then one can further pass it on to others by simply touching or shaking hands?!
4) What if the finger that was used to touch a person's genital area comes in contact with another non-sexual body part that has a cut on it. Ex: in washing hands, the two hands come together - the left one was used to touch someone's genital area and the right one has a cut (but no bleeding) ?
5) How do people get high risk oral HPV?
So, what DOES one need to worry about and what NOT to worry about? Is this possible: I finger a woman who has HPV -> HPV infects my fingers - > then touch someone else (even much later) and they would get it that way. Is kissing now a dangerous activity?
Thanks!!
P.S. Are there other STDs which CAN be transmitted in this casual way (touching, kissing, etc)?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The topic of HPV and genital warts is a complex one. I will try to provide some facts. For additional information on this most common of STDs, I would suggest search for other HPV- and wart-related Q&A on this site, as well seeking addition information on sites such as the American Social health Association web-site (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of ASHA)..
For better or worse, at present HPV is a "fact of life" and most people have it or will have it at some point in the future. There are over 100 different types of HPV. Some preferentially infect genital areas, others other parts of the body (hands, feet, etc). Despite the fact that HPV is so widespread, only a tiny minority of persons with HPV get the consequences of infection (primarily women and primarily cancer and pre-cancerous lesions). HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. The figure for men is less well studied but similar. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-24 months. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated. For men there is far less risk of any sort, With this as background, let's address your questions.
FYI, we do not get into debates with other web sites or information sources. There is lots of misinformation out there and we do not have the time to get into these sorts of debates. We urge clients not to go to such sites but if you choose to do so, that's up to you.
Genital HPV is primarily transmitted through ano-genital contact. Genital HPV strains are occasionally transmitted by other means including oral sex but it is uncommon and when it does, it is rarely of consequence. I am not aware of HPV transmission through kissing and would not worry about it if I were you.
HPV transmission on people’s hands is simply not a realistic concern.
Please take a look at the ASHA site. I will not get into a series of hypothetical "could it ever..." scenarios. This is not in your interest or mine. I hope my comments are helpful. I suspect the ASHA site will be even more help. EWH
For better or worse, at present HPV is a "fact of life" and most people have it or will have it at some point in the future. There are over 100 different types of HPV. Some preferentially infect genital areas, others other parts of the body (hands, feet, etc). Despite the fact that HPV is so widespread, only a tiny minority of persons with HPV get the consequences of infection (primarily women and primarily cancer and pre-cancerous lesions). HPV is the most commonly acquired STD. Over 85% of sexually active women will have HPV infection at some time in their lives. The figure for men is less well studied but similar. In some HPV will cause genital warts, in others it will not cause warts but may lead to changes in PAP smears. In nearly everyone who gets HPV, warts or otherwise, the infections will resolve by themselves without therapy in 8-24 months. In a very small minority of women, HPV infection can persist and lead to the pre-cancerous lesions that PAP smears detect and which can then be treated. For men there is far less risk of any sort, With this as background, let's address your questions.
FYI, we do not get into debates with other web sites or information sources. There is lots of misinformation out there and we do not have the time to get into these sorts of debates. We urge clients not to go to such sites but if you choose to do so, that's up to you.
Genital HPV is primarily transmitted through ano-genital contact. Genital HPV strains are occasionally transmitted by other means including oral sex but it is uncommon and when it does, it is rarely of consequence. I am not aware of HPV transmission through kissing and would not worry about it if I were you.
HPV transmission on people’s hands is simply not a realistic concern.
Please take a look at the ASHA site. I will not get into a series of hypothetical "could it ever..." scenarios. This is not in your interest or mine. I hope my comments are helpful. I suspect the ASHA site will be even more help. EWH
health central *******
oops, the first link doesn't post again ... the ***** stand for *************.com
Thank you doctor for addressing my concerns - the character limitation above did not allow me to say it there :)
The first link seemed not to post, so here it is again:
http://www.*************.com/drdean/408/21429.html
Here's another article that claims hand transmission:
http://www.amoils.com/treatment/genital-warts/hand-transmission-of-genital-warts.html
And .. another link that claims that casual HPV transmission is possible: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hpv-transmission-facts.html
There are lots of such claims floating around the web ...
The first link seemed not to post, so here it is again:
http://www.*************.com/drdean/408/21429.html
Here's another article that claims hand transmission:
http://www.amoils.com/treatment/genital-warts/hand-transmission-of-genital-warts.html
And .. another link that claims that casual HPV transmission is possible: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hpv-transmission-facts.html
There are lots of such claims floating around the web ...
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
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.
