[Question #10423] HPV DNA/Handwashing
 |
23 months ago
|
Good afternoon doctors, this will be my last and final post on your website. As your intellectual responses and wit are extremely helpful in understanding and navigating the complexity of HPV.
Forgive me if this sounds repetitive or anxiety driven. For I do not intend it to be, simply I always think of questions after the fact and cannot reply to thr post for obvious reasoning. The internet is an awful place to be when looking for answers regarding HPV and it's transmission, etc. Unfortunately, though I have received the vaccine as a young adult I somehow still managed to get a HR strain of HPV (-16/18). It's been over two years and am still testing positive with ASCUS which is really not a big deal, I know. My immune system is just a little off.
However, if my partner (who does not have HPV as far as I know). Was to finger me, and get my cervical mucus/discharge on his fingers and then washes his hands with soap and water or takes a shower. Is this enough to remove the HPV from the skins surface and wash it down the drain I'm assuming? It seems logical, however a lot of websites indicate that soap doesn't work on HPV.
My fear is that if HPV can be found under fingernails and can't be washed away by soap, is it likely to transmit this way to him ie his own genitals, mouth, etc. It seems to me that simply washing his hands after contact would be enough to remove the virus from the surface? Or am I misguided.
Wouldn't there need to be larger doses for HPV infection to take place than just a little bit under the fingernails? As I have understood from your previous replies to users that large amounts of the virus are needed to "take". Is it true that an active HPV infection loses its infectiouness soon after coming into contact with the air?
 |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 months ago
|
Welcome back to the Forum although I must admit, I'm dismayed that you felt the need. To remind you, in an earlier interaction I said ""Auto inoculation of HPV from one site on your own body to another, like transfer of HPV infection to others with your hands appears to be uncommon." If anything this is an understatement =. Please do not worry about the possibility of your partner contracting HPV through transfer of your genital secretions from your vagina to his mouth on his hands. For all practical purposes, STIs are not transmitted from person to person through transfer of secretions on the hands or fingers. No cause for concern. "
This earlier reply really answers all of your questions. Since HPV is not transmitted from person to person on unwashed hands, as indicated earlier, it is logical that, if anything hand washing would further reduce the already virtually non-existent chance of transmission or acquisition of through transfer of infectious material on a person's hands. Your HPV infection will not be transmitted to your partner through transfer of infectious material on the hands.
I have two pieces of advice for you:
1. Have your partner vaccinated for HPV. The will virtually eliminate any chance of new HPV infection.
2. Seek counseling. Your concerns, now stated over repeated posts during a period of several months indicate that you are having trouble grappling with this virtually ubiquitous, innocuous and readily managed viral infection. You need help moving on. I say this out of concern for you and concern that your obsession will damage your relationship with your partner. EWH
--- |
23 months ago
|
Thank you Dr. I appreciate your compassion.
Before this thread is closed, I noticed on other postings you compared STDs with other bacteria and infectious doses. What is the infectious dose of HPV? Or is that not well studied?
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 months ago
|
The infectious dose of HPV is not well studied. These sorts of studies are easier to do for bacteria than viruses. EWH---
|
23 months ago
|
Thank you, one last question.
Does soap inactivate HPV?
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
23 months ago
|
Yes, soap does kill HPV.
This completes this thread. Should you return to the Forum with further anxiety driven, obsessive questions related to HPV or other STIs, there is a good chance that hte questions will be deleted without a response and without return of your posting fee. You need to figure out how to move on. Repetitive, anxiety driven questions will not do that. PLEASE, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, SEEK PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING. EWH
---