I have been in a committed and loving relationship for 13 years now but was recently diagnosed with genital warts

My question is as follows 

How is this possible if both partners have been faithful 

What medical danger have I put my wife in and shud wd cease all sexual contact now, we have a full sex life including oral sex and im worried sick about this whole issue

Hoping you can give me some advice on how to cope with what is happening as im going out of my mind with worry

Yours respectively 

Mike 

You don't provide much information about your lesions, their location, appearance, etc. so I will presume that the diagnosis of genital warts was made by a trained clinician with experience in wart management.  There are literally hundreds of other types of non-HPV lesions which may occur on the genitals which are all too often mistaken for warts.

If the lesions you mention are warts and neither you nor your partner have had other recent partners, then the appearance of warts are likely to reflect infection acquired long ago which has become reactivated as sometimes happens as people age or as a result of starting medications which may even slightly depress the immune system which had keep the infection in check for years.  This occurs regularly.

Visible genital warts are far more of a nuisance than a threat to the health of you or your wife.  The types of HPV that cause nearly 95% of visible genital warts are not among the types which are somewhat associated with subsequent development of pre-cancerous lesions in a small proportion of persons who acquire HPV.  Other than their visibility, they represent little or no risk to you or your wife.  Presuming that your wife has had recommended reproductive health screening, if she had evidence of HPV infection, it would have been detected.

Your wife has already been exposed to your lesions.  There is no reason to change your sexual activity or practices in any way.

I hope this information is helpful.  Again, I encourage you to review some of the other threads to be accessible on the Forum.  If any part of this response is unclear or raises other questions, please use your up to two follow-ups for clarification.  EWH

Thank you very much for your reply

For clarity thr diagnosis of genital warts was made by my primary care phyisican, I may ask for a second opinion locally as having had the diagnosis I researched genital warts and nothing i saw in any picture resembles my lesions

My lesions are on the shaft of my penis and a dark pink  / red colour, they are completely flat to the extent that if I run my finger across the lesions I cannot feel them. I wud appreciate any thoughts you have in this 

I am in feeling in better place mentally since your first response and again I appreciate the time you took to answer my question 

Yours resptively 

Mike 

Would you have thoughts on what this issue might be

Regards 

As this is my 3rd reply, technically the thread should be closed now however if you’ll share what the dermatologist says I’ll leave it open until you tell us what he/she says or until 30 days have passed.  EWK

I will certainly update you once I get a diagnosis 

Many thanks for your help 

The dermatologist has confirmed genital warts

My wife will be going to get checked over this week, she has asked me about oral HPV, can I ask.what your thoughts on.this are

Thank and that is my final question