[Question #8636] Am I able to infect others with a historical HPV diagnosis?

41 months ago

To whom it may concern,

I'll try to keep this as short as possible while making it concise; I (27M) am beginning a new relationship with a woman (26F) and we got onto the conversation of past sexual health issues and I told her about contracting HPV in the past, her reaction was one based on little to no information on the subject apart from HPV can cause cervical cancer, so she is fairly worried and rightly so.

I contracted HPV when I was 19, I had Genital Warts (GW) that were cryogenically frozen and removed and also received the HPV vaccine at the same time. I only had GW caused by HPV for around five months and have not had an outbreak since. Sexual partners I have had between then and now have not tested positive on smears for HPV either.

I am not as well versed with HPV, GW and the other ailments that come from HPV as I'd like to be. So I wanted to ask;

- What is the likelihood that I still carry this virus and am contagious, if at all?
- Could HPV be lying dormant, and if so, is that passable to another person during sexual contact?
- Are we both worrying way too much when really, there's little to no risk/danger?

Any reply is appreciated to this as there is an air of anxiety around the entire situation and ultimately, doesn't set the right atmosphere or conditions for relations to progress.

Thank you,

A. Marshall

Edward W. Hook M.D.

41 months ago

Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your questions. I’ll I’ll be glad to comment. Before I get to your specific questions I would like to make a few general comments, just in case. I will also comment to congratulate you on your decision to disclose your past history to your new girlfriend, as well as to make the observation that all too often persons overreact to the sorts of disclosure you have made.

Having had genital warts more than five years ago which were then treated and have not occurred means that, from a practical perspective, your infection is cured and that infection is no longer transmissible to others. It is not something you should worry about. It is also perhaps worthwhile to remind you that the HPV viruses that cause visible genital warts are typically not the viruses associated with Pap smear abnormalities or cancer.

Second, in the time since you received your HPV vaccine, it is unlikely that you would have acquired additional HPV infections. The HPV vaccine is one of the most effective viruses in all of medicine for preventing infection by the types of virus covered by the vaccine and the cancers associated with those viruses.

Third, is your girlfriend vaccinated? She is at an age when the vaccine was widely available and highly recommended.

No I need a specific questions:

1. There is little or no likelihood that you are currently contagious for the HPV that causes your genital warts years ago.

2. Sophisticated scientific studies have shown that even after HPV has been cured and is no longer detectable by most methods, in some persons dormant HPVDNA may be present. This state of dormancy however is typically not associated with transmission of infection.

3. While I feel that you need not worry about the potential for you transmitting your HPV infection from long ago to your current partner, I do not want to call you silly. You were being responsible. That said, I would not be concerned about the possibility of you transmitting your past HPV infection to your new girlfriend.

I hope this information is helpful. The topic of HPV is complex and we are still learning about this all the time. If any part of my answers are unclear or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to use your ability to follow ups for that purpose. EWH

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41 months ago

Good afternoon Edward,

Firstly, thank you for your incredibly quick reply, its very much appreciated. Thank you, disclosing my past sexual health history is something important to me as I always want others to do the same to ensure all parties safety.

Thank you, that is a great deal of weight off my shoulders! I also did not know that HPV viruses that cause GW are typically not the same as ones that show on pap smears; I will keep this in mind and pass the information on to her.

She had the vaccine when she was of school age (13-15 I believe). We are from the UK where it is offered to young women in secondary school.

1. Thank you very much for this answer, I am extremely glad to hear it.

2. I was reading into this but I don't quite have the knowledge base to understand the studies to the level I'd like to, so this explanation is very beneficial, thank you.

3. I am very glad for this response as well, thank you very much.

This information has been beyond helpful to me and hopefully to my new partner when I send her your response, I hope it will put her mind at ease, as it has done mine.

Thank you very much,

A. Marshall

Edward W. Hook M.D.

41 months ago

I’m pleased that the information I provided has been helpful. I’m likewise pleased that you are both vaccinated for HPV. that will do much to protect you both.

FYI, there is much well written additional information available to you at the web site of ASHA (The American Sexual Health Association) who sponsor this site as well. Take care. EWH

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