[Question #10313] Cervical

24 months ago

I have a question about my chances of catching hpv on the cervix causing cervivak cancer. A year before I received the vaccine I had a somewhat sexual encounter. The male rubbed his penis against my vagina, then fingered me after he touched his own penis (I bled a little), and then inserted just the tip of his penis in my vagina. He then immediately removed it. 1) What are the chances of hpv infecting my cervix from this encounter since he did not put his penis in that deep at all? 2) Is it possible that from the genital rubbing the hpv infected my vulva and then the fingering pushed the hpv up to my cervix?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

Welcome. Thank you for your question. Directly to your questions, then some general comments and advice about HPV.

1) The chance you acquired HPV from this particular sexual exposure is low, but probably not zero. With any penile penetration at all, probably there was some risk -- but probably quite low. The other aspects of that event were risk free for all practical purposes; HPV is not known to be transmitted by hand-genital contact, fingering, etc.

2) There are no data on risk of cervical versus vulvar or labial HPV infection from any particular exposure. Probably it makes no difference: even relatively external infection probably can migrate up to the cervix.

Your overall chance of having HPV depends entirely on your sexual lifestyle, number of vaginal or anal sex partners, and the timing of those events in regard to vaccination. Around 90% of all sexually active persons acquire genital HPV, often by the time they have had three lifetime sex partners. Vaccination is 100% protective against the 9 HPV types that cause most cervical cancer and genital warts. If you would like to say more about your sexual experiences in general, I might be able to provide more information or advice. But whatever your baseline risk of having HPV either before or since vaccination, the single encounter described did not significantly raise that probability. All women should follow standard Pap smear recommendations. Doing so will essentially eliminate any chance of cervical cancer.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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24 months ago

Thank you so much from your response. After that encounter I had no sexual encounters till after I received a singular dose of Gardasil-9. After the vaccination, I had 7 sexual partners and contracted chlsmydia along with genital hsv1. Am I at high risk of developing cervicsl cancer?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

24 months ago

Yes, a slight risk. But no higher than the millions of women with similar sexual histories and HPV immunization. Invasive cervical cancer (i.e. to the point that it needs treatment beyond just removal of the tissue in a gynecologist's office) is almost non-existent in the US, at least among women who follow standard Pap smear guidelines. As a guess, maybe one chance in a million? (Having genital HSV makes no difference in cancer risk.)---
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23 months ago

Thank you! Just one last quick question. Prior to the sexual encounter I detailed in the original post, I had just shaved my entire vagina an hour prior. i know hpv enters through abrasions, does this increase my chance of acquisition from that encounter since shaving often leaves micro abrasions and in conjunction with friction from genital rubbing?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

23 months ago

Public or genital area shaving is not known to increase the risk of HPV if exposed. Statements that say risk is increased are making assumptions based on theory; there are no data to suggest it happens.

Just accept the fact that you have HPV, since 90% of all humans acquire it by the time they have had a few sex partners. You are partly protected by having a single dose of HPV vaccine; you should consider going ahead with the remaining doses (or at least one more) to maximize protection by the vaccine. Also follow standard Pap smear guidelines, as recommended by your own doctor. Then stop worrying entirely about HPV!

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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