[Question #12934] Hvp after vaccines?

3 months ago

I am a 34-year-old woman who was recently diagnosed with genital HPV through a cytology test that came out abnormal, which was unexpected because I have had them done since I was 20 years old and they always came out normal, but this happened after getting vaccinated with Gardasil 9 and just a month later warts appeared, so I don't know if it is possible that the virus is reactivated because of this. It is confusing. I have never had warts before. They were cauterized and I received the 3 doses and my partner received 2. When will I be able to have unprotected sex? We are monogamous and we always had unprotected sex and he doesn't have any injuries. I'm afraid that having sex will give him and me warts.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Apparently you were interrupted before completing your question. Feel free to continue your question in the follow-up window below. It won't cost you another posting fee.

HHH, MD

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3 months ago

I'm a 34 old woman who recently was

Diagnoses with hvp through a pap smear that came back anormal, it was unexpected, i' ve them since im 20, and Always came back normal, however this happened after i got vaccined with gardasil 9, just month later warts apear inside My vagina, it's possible that they vaccine actívate

the virus? Never had warts before, i had they cauterized with láser, when can i have unprotec sex ,? i got a monogamous boyfriend he never had warts i'm afraid to have sex, can i give him warts and that they come out again on My vagina before this for 5 years we had been having unprotect sex

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

I'm happy to address these questions.

Both your recently diagnosed genital warts and abnormal pap might be due to a distant past HPV infection that reactivated; or might be recently acquired (within the previous few months). It usually isn't possible to know when and from whom any particular HPV infection occurred. However, it is likely your abnormal Pap smear are due to the same HPV acquired fairly recently. Since you are sexually active, it was smart to be vaccinated against HPV -- but the vaccine cannot trigger new HPV infection or reactivation of the virus. It's a coincidence that all this happened soon after you were vaccinated.

Is your boyfriend a new sex partner, or were you together before the warts and abnormal Pap smear showed up? If you have been ongoing partners, he has already been repeatedly exposed to your HPV infection(s) and there is no point in stopping sex with him now. In that case, he could be the source of your infection(s); or if not, he likely is now immune to your HPV. However, if this is a new relationship and you haven't been having sex up til now, you might wait another couple months after treatment of the warts to reduce the chance of exposing him to the virus.

I know this can be a confusing situation. However, in the long run you are very unlikely to have any serious health outcome, and your partner's risk also is very low. You need to follow your doctor's advice about follow-up Pap smears and perhaps other exams, such as coloposcopy for a more detailed examination of your cervix. If you follow that advice, you will be at no significant risk of serious health problems from HPV.

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

HHH, MD

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3 months ago

I'm alreary with him since 2020 before the warts came out we have been having unprotect sex since 2022 cause whe are estable and monogamus, he got 2 doses of vaccine because i'm afraid that at they 3rd one dosis they warts pop up like in my case, My warts where cauterized one month ago so how long should i wait to have sex without condon? My biopsy came out negative for malignancy and the colposcopy showed nic 1,

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

Your warts did not "pop up" because of the vaccine. That won't happen with your partner either.

You do not need to be using condoms at all. Having been with your partner for 5 years, he has already been repeatedly exposed to your HPV, and you've been repeatedly exposed to whatever HPVs he might be carrying. There is no point in trying to prevent infecting him or protecting yourself with condoms now. Anyway, condoms are very poor protection against HPV. There is too much skin contact above the condom's range on the penis.

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3 months ago

And for oral hpv, i'm worried about developing oral cáncer twelve years ago was the last time i practice oral sex

I don't have symtoms, would be enough Boost My imune system with garlic, folic acid and vitamins

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 months ago

Oral HPV is frequent, but not as common as genital infection. However, the chance you have oral HPV is low given the rarity with which you have given oral sex to your partners. The vast majority of oral HPV infections never cause warts, cancer or other symptoms. Even with millions of oral HPV infections every year in the US, oral cancer due to HPV remains uncommon, with only a few thousand cases a year. Only one HPV type (HPV16) causes almost all those cancers; most HPV types are no oral cancer risk at all.

Garlic, folic acid or other vitamins can't hurt, but there is no evidence they actually boost the immune system and they are not known to reduce the risk of HPV related cancers.

That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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