[Question #6282] Warts

17 months ago
Hello and good morning doctors, 
my boyfriend had warts on his forearm and maybe on his fingers too. he fingered me while we were intimate with our clothes on. There was no genital to genital contact, just fingering. But not sure if he touched himself and his penis before touching my vagina. My question is, can HPV be transmitted from hand warts to the genitals? If he has genital warts too, can he infect me with his hands if he has touched himself just before fingering me? Is it a risk for cervical cancer? I was not vaccinated when this happened. But I took my first shot today.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
17 months ago

Welcome to the Forum and thanks for your question.  I'll be glad to comment.  let me start by congratulating you on your decision to get vaccinated for HPV. This will do much to prevent future infections. 

There are over 100 different types of HPV- not all cause genital infections as a generalization, in fact most do not. Furthermore, the HPV types that cause warts on the hands rarely cause genital infections.  In addition HPV is very, very rarely transmitted by transfer of infection on a person's hands in the process of masturbation.  The events you describe are very, very low risk for acquisition of HPV. I would not worry.  EWH

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17 months ago
Thank you for your response Dr. Hook.  So even the warts on the hand don't cause genital HPV? And in the act fingering, are the strains that can cause cervical cancer be transmitted?? i'm sorry, I dont know if i followed it well. So just making sure I understand it completely. 
17 months ago
Also can receiving Oral sex cause HPV? OR can HPV spread by using public toilets?

Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
17 months ago

You followed my comments correctly.  Being fingered will not put you at risk for HPV, even if your partner has warts on his hand.  Further, the stains of HPV that cause warts on the hands are not the strains that cause genital infection. 

Receipt of oral sex can result in acquisition of HPV but it is rare.

You will not get HPV off of toilet seats.

Please don't worry.  Go on and finish your HPV vaccination series.  You'll be fine. EWH

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17 months ago
thank you so much. It really has put me at ease.
My last question, Is HPV transmitted through open mouth kissing? 
Is the genital hpv transmitted only through sexual intercourse? Once if the body clears HPV, can it come back?
17 months ago
How common is HPV in 10-13 years old boys? Only asking because my first kiss was 20 years back. I grew up in India and moved to US 4 years back. He was 10-13 years old back then and I'm just regretting not taking vaccines before. I have never had an intercourse. I am freaking out if I must have gotten cancer causing strains from kissing. Does it spread this way? Is there any test i need to get to make sure I don't have any scary hp strains? I'm HIV negative and Hep Negative. got tested a year back.
17 months ago
In total, I have performed open-mouth kissing with 3 guys. Don't know if it adds any value to your interpretation
Edward W. Hook M.D.
Edward W. Hook M.D.
17 months ago

Let me start this final reply by suggesting that you look at other threads on this site regarding HPV.  We get many questions and have provided a lot of information to clients.  As you look you will see that without vaccination, almost every sexually active person will acquire HPV at some time in their life and despite that, only a tiny fraction of those persons will go on to get HPV-related cancer.  Furthermore, by following recommended sexual health screening recommendations, lesions associated with cancer will be detected early and can be readily treated.  Between your decision to get vaccinated and routine check ups you should really not worry about HPV. 

In answer r to your other questions.  I suppose that there is a very small chance of acquiring HPV through open mouth kissing IF your partner has oral HPV (oral infection rates are much lower than ano-genital rates).  Further rates are likely to be very low in 10-13 year old boys.  I would not worry about your childhood kissing.

Please don't worry.  complete your HPV vaccinations, get vaccinated for hepatitis B if you have not been and get regular health check ups.  Your risk for any of these infections is very low. 

I hope that this information is helpful to you.  Please don't worry.  Also, please read other threads on this site- part of our goal is to allow others to learn from our replies to other clients.   Now, as per Forum guidelines, this thread will be close without further replies.  Take care.  EWH 

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