[Question #11356] Genital warts

15 months ago

I made out with someone in March 2024 (deep kissing, my hand was all up in her vagina, and I received blow jobs). Just before we were about to have intercourse, she said that she had had genital warts in January 2023. She said she used the prescription cream immiquimod and they went away. I received the HPV vaccination in 2011-12. She had been vaccinated in 2012-13 - so presumably she contracted a strain that was not covered by the vaccine. My questions are:

- How likely is it that she might have already cleared the virus, in which case we could have sex?

- If the risk of vaginal sex is too high, what about the risks of (a) kissing; and (b) my receiving oral sex (i.e., a blow job) from her?

Again, in March we did passionate kissing ~3 nights, I received ~3 blow jobs, and one night my hand was all up in her vagina; but we did not have sex. The question now is whether I should continue (a) kissing her and/or (b) receiving blow jobs from her; and/or (c) whether we should have sex. I do not want an unduly elevated risk of getting warts.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

15 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment. I see little reason for concern from the exposure you describe. I would not conclude that the warts she mentioned were due to a non-vaccine type of HPV. There are occasional, although admittedly rare instances in which the vaccine does not provide full protection or your partner may have acquired the HPV that caused her warts before she received that vaccine. In addition, you have the protective effect of your own vaccination which not only covers the HPV types specifically included in the vaccine but also offers a modest degree of cross protection against other HPV types. Further she had been treated and if her warts were no long present there is little likelihood of HPV transmission. Finally, given that her warts were genital in location, receipt of oral sex, kissing, or your vigorous masturbation of her should not put you at risk. I would not be worried.

In response to your specific questions:

1. I would presume that her warts had resolved and see no reason to abstain from sex with her

2. See above, the risk of vaginal sex is low. Same for kissing or receipt of oral sex

I would not worry. I hope these comments are helpful. EWH

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