[Question #13381] HPV exposure

4 days ago

Hi!

First of all, thank you for having this website and us being able to ask you questions. It helps many of us!

I am 28 years old, female. I had a sexual encounter with a guy about 2 weeks ago. He just told two days ago, that this year in April he had been diagnosed with Genital warts (type 6). He got it treated but the warts came back just after we he sex. He didn’t have any warts according to him during the encounter. But since it came back now, I believe the infection never fully went away during this time. He did not disclose to me prior because he thought the infection was gone.

Our encounter was without a condom for a couple of seconds until we decided to use a condom.

When I was 12, I received a shot of the first Gardasil vaccine. I never took the follow up doses. However I received one dose of Gardasil 9 in 2022 (at age 25).

I heard that many countries now follow the one dose scheme instead. Since I received Gardasil 9 and also one shot of the first Gardasil when I was 12, would you believe I’ve been protected during this encounter?

If I meet a new partner, do I need to disclose this exposure or only if I do develop any symptoms?

Thank you for taking your time.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

3 days ago

Welcome back to the forum.

I agree it is likely your new partner had active HPV ever since his initial diagnosis with genital warts 5 months ago. Nevertheless, you are at very low risk for genital warts from the exposure described, assuming your partner is correct that his recently diagnosed warts were caused by HPV 6 -- since that's one of the HPV types prevented by the HPV vaccine. As you have learned, recent research has shown that immunity to HPV is quite strong (and long lasting) after only a single dose of the Gardasil vaccine, even though 2-3 doses of vaccine are officially advised. And having had two doses -- even though over 10 years apart -- makes it 100% certain you are immune to HPV 6.

In general, most people with past HPV infections need not inform their partners. It's optional even with known active infections (although opinions vary widely in that situation). But it definitely is never necessary to inform partners about known exposures to HPV or when immunity is almost certain, as for you. All is well, no worries!

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

HHH, MD

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3 days ago

Thank you for your answer. I really appreciate it.

I guess I was confused since reading online on some forums, people say you’re horrible person for not disclosing so that’s why I went here. I feel better relying on an expert like you guys, that’s why I came here. Since you know the science.

I, myself, already carry HSV2 genitally but I always disclose it. I guess it’s a bit different with HPV and that’s why I never held any grudge towards this guy after reading your previous answers too.

Thank you for helping other people. Have a great day.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

2 days ago

There certainly are alternate opinions on informing partners about HPV, and I absolutely agree it's pretty much necessary for HSV2. But that's a very different infection. And it's complex because there are two potential reasons to inform: disease prevention and relationship/respect. Many potential partners, especially when a relationship might become committed, discuss past partnerships, STIs, etc out of mutual caring and respect -- even for relatively unimportant infections (like HPV) or cured (like gonorrhea, chlamydia or syphilis). The second reason is health protection. For HPV that's less important, since everyone has been or is going to be infected anyway and most infections are harmless; and sex with any particular person who might still be infected usually doesn't raise their risk of an important health problem. Anyway, most of those who accuse someone of being "a horrible person" to not disclose HPV probably doesn't really understand the infection very well. (And I congratulate you for your mature attitude about the guy who might have infected you.)---