[Question #12677] Past HPV and Sex

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6 months ago
I (40f) had high risk HPV (not 16/18.) About 2 years ago had LEEP to address dysplasia. Since then, husband (of 10+ years) has worn a condom during vaginal sex and we stopped oral sex, though continued kissing. 6 month post op pap was normal, positive HPV. 1 year post op pap was normal, NEGATIVE HPV. Are we in the clear to resume vaginal and oral sex without the use of condoms or will this increase the risk of HPV testing positive again and potentially causing cell changes in cervix and/or oral cavities/throats? We are monogamous.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
6 months ago
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your confidence in our services.

I'm afraid you and your husband rather seriously overreacted to your HPV diagnosis. There was no need to alter your sexual practices with your husband, i.e. using condoms and stopping oral sex. He undoubtedly had been repeatedly exposed to your HPV infection, perhaps for years; could have been the source; and in any case no longer at risk to be infected from you. Changing sexual practices in order to prevent HPV in this situation is like closing the barn door long after the horse was out and galloping over distant fields. And anyway, condoms are not effective in preventing HPV in the long run; they reduce the chance of transmission for any single usage, but over time condom users are just as likely to catch and have HPV as non condom users.

Underlying this advice is that HPV is a normal, excpected aspect of human sex; over 90% of sexually active persons are infected and many carry the virus for years. Anyway, at this time you certainly can and should cease using condoms and not worry at all about oral sex -- which was never an important health risk for your husband anyway.

For more detailed information about HPV that might be helpful, consider seeing the information available from CDC (www.cdc.gov/std) and the sponsor of this forum, the American Sexual Health Association (www.ashashexualhealth.org). In the meantime, I hope this reply is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD
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6 months ago
Dr. Handsfield,
Thank you for the helpful and prompt response. I do have two follow up questions.
Since we cannot test him for HPV, is it possible that he still has it and I can get reinfected? I'm not only concerned about him, I am concerned about myself now that I am clear. And I'm primarily concerned about performing oral sex on him and potentially infected my mouth and throat.
Should another pap smear come back abnormal and/or positive for HPV, does any this advice change?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
6 months ago
People are immune to new infections with the HPV types they already have or had in the past. You and your husband are very unlikely to ever infect the other, any part of the body. This is the main reason it was not necessary to alter your sex with him, and can continue any and all sexual practices together that give you mutual pleasure. These facts and my advice will not change, no matter what Pap smear results you might have in the future.

Do these responses help further?
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6 months ago
Yes. Thank you so much!