[Question #11892] HPV (HIGH RISK)
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11 months ago
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Hello doctors. Long time no talk!
Long story short. I still have HR HPV. This has been going on for several years now. Our last previous conversation had to do with hpv and handwashing. My therapist told me if I was so worried about walking around with virus on my hands, to just get a PCR test since it just needs epithelial cells.
You previously told me that sanitizing the hands would remove any present HPV and remove the risk of passing it along via hands.
However, I decided to conduct the test on recommendation from my therapist and hoping to ease my mind.
I sanitized my hands before swabbing my fingers. Sent the test off to the lab. It came back positive for HR HPV. I am confused on how my hands tested positive even after washing my hands....
Thank you for your kindness.
I very much so hope this is not against the rules I'm just extremely confused on the misinformation and would like some clarification.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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Welcome back to the Forum. I must say that I'm perplexed by the results of the swab from your fingers. HPV DNA is widespread and detection is not the same as transmission and to my knowledge, HPV is not transmitted on a person's hands. Had you put your fingers into your vaginal before you tested? Were there genital secretions under your fingernails. I don't have a good explanation about this.
As you may know, there are studies which have shown HPV DNA present on inanimate objects but there are no good data to suggest that contact with inanimate objects regularly transmit HPV.
---BTW, did your partner get vaccinated for HPV?
I'll continue to think about this and may have follow-up comments. EWH
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11 months ago
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Good morning, Dr. Hook.
Could you clarify the difference between detection and transmission for me?
Yes, before I swabbed my fingers I had put them in my vagina for a few seconds to simulate masturbation essentially. I then sanitized my hands and swabbed.
Yes, he did.
Thank you for your comments. :)
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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Thanks for the additional information, I'm so glad to hear that your partner has been vaccinated. As a result, he's fully protected from acquistion of high risk HPVs.
Dr. Handsfield and I discussed your "experiment" and he is in agreement with the details of my reply. In addition, he correctly adds that soap/sanitizer would be expected to disrupt the protein coat of the HPV virus (which is necessary for transmission) while not necessarily destroying the HPV DNA which is resistant to this effect. In addition, he adds that while "...studies
have identified HPV on hands, e.g. under fingernails — but is a research
procedure never meant to be translated to clinical practice. ... and reemphasizes that no data suggest genital HPV is ever found in people whose only exposures
were from partners’ hands" Thus while DNA which is a VERY tough molecule (remember, prehistoric DNA from dinosaurs has been analyzed by scientists after millions of year in the ground, there is no evidence that this represents living animals), detection of DNA is not to be equated with infectiousness.
Once again, as we have discussed for well over a year, there are no scientific data or evidence to suggest that HPV is transmitted from person to person on person's ands or through intermediary contact with contaminated inanimate objects.
I hope this is helpful and my thanks to Dr. Handsfield for his additional input.
Reminder- you have one follow-up remaining and I doubt I will have much to add beyond. I hope this is helpful EWH
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11 months ago
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Thank you both so much! You guys are amazing.
One last thing before you close this thread. You say my partner would be protected against HR HPV types. However. I was vaccinated back in 2016 (prior to any sexual encounters) and still managed to get it. (Maybe I'm just unlucky? Lol) I'm not sure what type I have just that it's not 16 or 18.
Once again thank you, bless you guys.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
11 months ago
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You may have been unlucky- the vaccine you received contained 4 HPV types including 16 and 18 and provides about 97% protection against those types as well as partial protection against other HPV types. More recent versions cover 5 additional HR HPV types which contribute protection against other HR types. You may have been unlucky or may have one of the less common HR types now covered in the current vaccine which covers 9 HPV types- 6 and 11 which cause most visible warts and a total of 7 relatively HR types. His vaccine is more broadly protective.
This completes this thread. I urge you to try to move forward. EWH
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