It's good to know you understood and have for the most part been following our advice about HPV disclosure, including the comments by Dr. Hook in your last thread (no. 7554). To reiterate the main points, there's little point in disclosure of old infection wihtout current known active infection, especially when more than a year has passed since diagnosis and the likelihood of continuing transmissible HPV infection is very low. And because all sexually active persons are repreatedly exposed and often infected, sex with any partiular new partner -- even one known to have past HPV -- does not materially raise that person's risk of infection, and especially has a trivial effect on his or her risk for an important health outcome from HPV (warts and cancer). These factors seem to apply to your current partner.

Beyond that, you're really asking about relationship issues, since you understand the clinical and biological facts and obviously are able to discuss the situation knowledgeably. Your concerns certainly are "logical", just perhaps a bit over worried about the actual transmission risk, which is low.

We are not relationship counselors, and you know your partner (and yourself) and I don't. I'll just point out that disclosure of HPV (or other past STD) often is viewed differently for committed, ongoing (or anticipated ongoing) sexual relationships than for one-offs or short term relationship. Past STD disclosure can be an element of forging and maintaining the relationship, an issue basic personal respect and caring. To put it more directly, how will you or he feel if he develops genital warts or a precancerous penile lesion and you only disclose your status at that time? This doesn't necessarily make your decision easier, but it might be something for you to consider -- beyond the true fact that the actual risk of such an outcome is very low.

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

HHH, MD

I think I’m just not sure what to say that won’t cause undue concern from him. Or that will seem like I was being deceitful or uncaring or something. I just wasn’t sure how to approach it and wasn’t sure it was something I needed to say anyway since it has been so long.

I’m not worried about him having a precancerous lesion…as I thought most warts were not cancerous. Am I mistaken? Certainly there is some worry about causing him to have a wart even though I kind of doubt it would happen. I don’t know. 

I guess I’m not sure how to bring it up now in a way that explains I’m really just as much of a risk as any other human considering I didn’t have any complications or recurrences after successful treatment (frozen off and then some Aldara).

Also, I know transmission possibility is low. And I know you probably can’t give specific data around what “low” means, but it is extremely low? Can you give a more detailed explanation of what “low” means? I’m aware that may be difficult.

The rest of your comments here are relationship issues that I really can't address. Perhaps you would benefit from communicating with other persons facing disclosure questions about HPV. The website of the forum sponsor (www.ashasexualhealth.org) has a link to a potentially suitable online support group.