[Question #726] Transmitting HPV after almost 15 years
104 months ago
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
104 months ago
|
Jennifer. Welcome back to the Forum. I will provide some perspective and try to help. I read your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield and agree completely when he answered you, including his statement that "The body's immune system clears HPV, usually in a few months. Between that and your LEEP, there is little chance you still have an active HPV infection. HPV DNA can persist longer, perhaps for life -- which is the origin of statements that HPV never entirely goes away. However, late reactivation from persisting DNA is rare and it is unlikely to happen to you. And there is also no significant chance you can transmit the infection to current or future sex partners."
I think your question says more about you, and perhaps your ex (see below), than it does about the likelihood that you transmitted HPV to your BF who then has transmitted infection to his current partner. It tells me that that you are a caring, responsible person and I applaud that. At the same time, I strongly urge you to not worry that you are the cause of your ex's HPV. While by virtue of your LEEP you can be reasonably confident that you had HPV, as Dr. Handsfield explained, there is little reason to believe that you were infectious subsequently, based on both your regular GYN check-ups and your multiple normal PAP smears. Most sexually active persons will acquire HPV and there is no good way to tell who gave their infection to whom. In fact, given your test results, it is unlikely that you were the source of the other woman's infection. On the other hand, by virtue of the fact that both she and your ex-BF have had other partners, it is to be expected that one or both of them would be infected. Please know that it is highly unlikely that you were the source (indirectly) of her HPV infection. you have no reason for guilt over this.
I hope that your ex told you so you could be checked (as you are already doing) rather than in an effort to blame you. If he was trying to blame you, that blame is misplaced. Please do not feel in ANY way bad or responsible for the other woman's HPV infection, EWH
104 months ago
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
104 months ago
|
---
104 months ago
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
103 months ago
|