[Question #3625] HPV and HSV Fear
86 months ago
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Until two years ago, I had not been with any women in my life. Since then, I have had 3 relationships. Now I’m about to enter a
long term, monogamous relationship. I know she has never been with any other man
before.
I had sexual relationship with these three women but extremely
limited. Never vaginal, anal or oral sex. It was kissing and me licking and
eating breasts. As far as I can remember, there was only one instance (two years
ago) that the first woman I was with briefly licked my penis with her tongue (matter
of seconds). My penis did not enter her mouth and I instantly noticed and stopped
her. I’ve never had any symptoms as far as I know. Not concerned, except for herpes
and HPV. I also have had a complete does of Gardasil 9. Except for one I never noticed
any cold sores on their lips and they said they have never had it. Here are my
questions:
1. Based on my kissing experience, is there a chance of oral
HPV or HSV2? I was not immunized for HPV when I was with the first one.
2. How are the chances of genital HPV, HSV1&2
(especially HSV2) from that brief lick on my genital?
3. I know most HPV infections clear out after a while. Is it
after 6 months or more? I’ve read different ranges from 6 to 24 months.
4. Is HPV vaccine effective for oral HPV as well, or it’s
just form genital HPV?
5. How long does it take for the vaccine to become
effective? I had a kissing relationship one week after the first shot of the
vaccine? Is that enough time?
6. The fact that sometimes I feel I have irritations in my throat
(due to allergies) or gum breaks changes my chances?
7. Do you recommend IgG test for HPV2? I’m very worried for
HPV2 but the thought of false negative scares me. Is it necessary or helpful
for me? Is it true no matter how long passes there is a chance of error in IgG?
8. You think I need to talk about any of these with my future
wife? Are there chances of serious health issues or I’ll just cloud her mind
with useless thoughts?
Thanks you!
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
86 months ago
|
1. Based on my kissing experience, is there a chance of oral HPV or HSV2? I was not immunized for HPV when I was with the first one.
No, as noted above, these were no risk events.
2. How are the chances of genital HPV, HSV1&2 (especially HSV2) from that brief lick on my genital?
Same answer as above. These were no risk events. If you have HSV-1, as many people do, you would have acquired it in childhood as is most often the case, not from the exposures you have described.
3. I know most HPV infections clear out after a while. Is it after 6 months or more? I’ve read different ranges from 6 to 24 months.
4. Is HPV vaccine effective for oral HPV as well, or it’s just form genital HPV?
Definitive studies are underway but all indications are that the HPV vaccine should protect against oral as well as genital infections.
5. How long does it take for the vaccine to become effective? I had a kissing relationship one week after the first shot of the vaccine? Is that enough time?
The vaccine becomes more effective with the passage of time, Vaccine activity is protective after the 2nd dose. HPV is not passed through kissing but the one week have the first vaccine dose would be early to expect protective effect.
6. The fact that sometimes I feel I have irritations in my throat (due to allergies) or gum breaks changes my chances?
No.
7. Do you recommend IgG test for HPV2? I’m very worried for HPV2 but the thought of false negative scares me. Is it necessary or helpful for me? Is it true no matter how long passes there is a chance of error in IgG?
You may mean HSV-2, not HPV. Either way, in your situation I recommend against blood tests. They are much more likely to be falsely positive than to find an infection.
8. You think I need to talk about any of these with my future wife? Are there chances of serious health issues or I’ll just cloud her mind with useless thoughts?
I see no reason to discuss these low risk events with your future wife. The exposures did not put you at risk for infection and if the disclosure would introduce tension into your relationship it would not be a good thing. I suggest you just move forward from here without concern about these past experiences. EWH