[Question #13990] HPV - GW

1 months ago

Hello - I realized I may have had genital warts between 2024 April - July and I had around 6-7 around my groin, shaft, and thigh. I did not realize what they were at the time. I then had intercourse with a girl in November of 2025 while I still had them - immediately after, I got them checked and found out they were GW. We had protected sex for the most part, but the last 5 minutes were unprotected therefore I completely understand that she was exposed to them.

Fast forward April 2026, and I have gotten them removed a few times as I keep spotting new ones through cryotherapy, and recently just removed one yesterday on my upper groin / thigh area as well so they're still not going away. The only time I had sex with that girl was that one time, it's been around 5 months and she has still not seen any warts.

I'm really confused about my future as these warts are not going away.

My question is, if we both get the vaccine now, will she be safe from getting them even though I have them? Like let's say there's a small chance she didn't get them the first and only time we had sex, if we both get the vaccine now, does it make her safe? I'm really banking on the fact that she didn't get it the first time we had sex and am trying to figure out ways to ensure when we have sex in the future she doesn't get them.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. Let me start by asking if you are sure the lesions you have noticed are warts. Lesions of the groin and thigh are uncommon and it would be unusual for new lesions to appear soon after therapy. There are many other dermatological problems that are commonly mistaken for warts.

Second, has your partner had sex with other persons? If so it would not be unusual for her to already have HPV if she’s not been vaccinated.

Typically if a person is going to develop warts, they appear within 2-4 months of exposure. If she’s not seen warts yet, she may not have been infected.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to avoid HPV. Vaccinated persons are protected from infection with the HPV types that cause most warts by 2-3 weeks following their 2nd injection. Getting vaccinated would be good for you both. EWH

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1 months ago

Hi Dr. Edward,

Thank you for your prompt response. The ones on my thighs and groin I diagnosed as warts myself, and when I went to the dermatologist, they confirmed it was warts as well. Honestly, though, they always just take a visual look, the same way I do - no testing was involved.

Second, my partner was with one person before me, so I understand she could have been exposed to HPV from him potentially.

Hypothetically, if she hasn't been infected from our sexual encounter, and we both get the vaccine and then have sex again, would she be protected against the HPV that I have? We will both get the vaccine regardless, but I just want to understand if there's a chance I can still save the situation, given that she still hasn't developed warts and continues to show signs she's not infected.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

Thanks for the additional information. If your lesions are due to HPV types 6 or 11, which cause over 95% of visible warts, successful vaccination should protect her from future acquisition o infection. Should she acquire HPV this is typically more of a nuisance than a threat to her health, particularly if she gets regular sexual health check ups as is recommended. Please take a look at some of the many other threads available on our site to learn more about why HPV is only a minor health concern for many people. We make them accessible so that you can learn from our answers to other similar questions.

One follow up remaining. EWH

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1 months ago

Thanks - here is my last question:

Let's say she got infected from our one encounter but never developed visible warts. A year later, we get the vaccine and resume having sex.

Since she's already infected with the same HPV strain I have, the vaccine won't help her clear that existing infection. My question is: can continued sex now cause her to develop visible genital warts if I still have the infection?

In other words - if she's been carrying the infection silently for a year (no sex in between), could resuming sexual activity trigger or worsen the infection to the point of visible symptoms?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

Final answer. This is a hypothetical, “ what if” question that serves no purpose and for which there are no good answers. If she has HPV and has not yet developed visible warts, she is unlikely to do so. If she’s infected she won’t become “ more infected”.

I recommend that you get vaccinated and stop worrying about.

End of discussion. EWH

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