[Question #12386] Past HPV Infection and Psoriasis medication

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8 months ago
Hello, 
I am on a biologic (cosentyx) for my psoriasis and I am concerned about my past hpv infections that may be dormant coming back due to a supressed immune system. 

A couple weeks back I wrote a message on here concerned that a hand job at a strip club may have exposed me to hpv. I mentioned in my response that about 12 years ago I had genital warts (they were frozen off ) and I haven't had any recurrence for 10+ years. I also mentioned I had given oral sex to someone who was found to have high risk hpv. 

Like I mentioned in my post a couple weeks back, my doctor told me they think there is a high probability I have cleared these viruses - and I was given the 3 shot hpv vaccine to help protect me from future infections. 

I am worried that being on cosentyx will bring my hpv infection in case it was dormant in my system . I am incredibly scared I will infect my partner, even though she has told me she has had the hpv vaccine. I am losing sleep over this, but also don't want to go back to being covered in psoriasis. 




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8 months ago
I should note that I have only been on the medication cosentyx for 2 or so years, which is 7 + years after the oral sex and 9 years after any warts were cleared. 
I believe I finished my 3 shot hpv vaccine before taking the biologic. 

Am I over thinking this and jumping to the worst case scenario without much reason ? I'd like to believe so. I just hope this doesn't suppress my immune system so much that an infection may come back . 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum although I'm sorry to see that you remain so disproportionately concerned about your virtually no risk exposure over the possibility of having a recurrence or acquistion of an innocuous infection that most people have and that very, very few persons suffer meaningful consequences from.  Your Cosyntyx may slightly increase your risk of HPV recurrence IF residual, quiescent HPV remains in your body (remember, it DOES NOT persist and reactivate in most people, including those who are taking immunosuppressive medications.  You have done everything that can be done to address the possibility of infection and your partner is vaccinated, offering them protection.  Your unwarranted anxiety of excessive and unwarranted.  You need to move on.  Life is full of minor risks. Your risk of being hit by a car or by lightening is higher than your risk of having acquired or reactivated HPV and transmitted it to your partner.  I really have nothing more to say other than to urge you to continue your Cosyntyx..  EWH---
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8 months ago
Thank you Doctor. I very much appreciate you breaking it down to me like that. I was just doin the thing where I search on the internet and see all these connections between the two and was jumping to worst case scenarios. Thanks for helping me move past this. 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
The internet is your enemy here.  There is no way to know what’s correct, what’s exaggerated, what’s out of date, what’s taken out of context, and what’s just plain wrong.  EWH---
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8 months ago
Thank you for helping ease my stress and worries about this. I am gonna take your advice and do my best to not worry about this and just move on. I appreciate this so much . 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
I whole heartedly endorse that plan.  I think counseling would be helpful.

Close the thread now, there should be no need to return.  EWH
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