I am a 26 year old gay male who has has anal HSV1 for 6 years. I was recently diagnosed with HPV due to the presence of condyloma, as confirmed through a biopsy. Both diseases manifest anally. 

I am unsure what type of HPV was present, but my doctor does not believe it to be cancerous. 

Because this is the site of manifestation (in my rectum and around my anus), do I run a risk of passing the viruses orally? I don’t want to kiss or perform oral sex on a partner and have them contract either of these diseases. I know that for any anal encounters condoms or dental dams are recommended as preventative measures, but I don’t want him to worry about kissing me. 

Thank you of your insight. 

Anal HSV-1 tends to recur far less commonly than HSV-1 and is rarely transmitted through ano-genital intercourse.  The likelihood that you have HSV-1 orally as well as anally is very low and thus there is little risk that you will transmit HSV-1 from your mouth to a partner through kissing.  Further, I should add that although 8 out of 10 infected persons do not know they have it, over 60% of U.S. adults have HSV-1 and a person cannot acquire the infection twice. Thus, considering both of these facts, the risk of you transmitted HSV-1 to another person through kissing is quite low.  I would not be concerned at all.

Regarding HPV these are local infections.  Thus the fact that you have had rectal HPV does not mean you have oral HPV.  Further, the type of HPV that causes visible warts does not infect the oral cavity well.  Finally, in general, HPV infections are less common orally than at the genital or anal regions.  When HPV occurs in the oral cavity is is typically asymptomatic and does not cause visible warts.  thus, I would not worry about transmitting HPV to another person through kissing or performing oral sex on them.

I hope this information is helpful.  If there are further questions or parts of my reply are unclear, please feel free to use your up to two follow-ups for clarification.  EWH

From my interpretation of what you are saying, the risk of HPV transmission through giving oral sex is next to impossible and the risk of HSV1 transmission through anal sex is low, however I could transmit HSV1 through receiving oral sex and HPV through receiving anal sex. 

Please let me know if I am understanding this correctly. 

Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease, Dr. Hook. Your answer was most helpful. 

I think you may have misunderstood. To the risk of transmitting either your HPV or your HSV infection through kissing or performing oral sex on a partner is very very low, close to zero.  There is a theoretical but also very very low risk of transmitting your HSV infection through receipt of insertive rectal sex..  Your HPV/general warts infection could certainly be transmitted to partners if you are participating in unprotected receptive rectal intercourse.

I hope this clarifies things. Please don’t hesitate if this response is unclear. EWH

I have only ever had symptoms associated with HSV1 and HPV rectally. As site infections, does this mean that they can be passed from my penis as well? 

Thank you for you time, Dr. Hook!

End of thread. EWH