[Question #8923] Exposed to HPV

38 months ago

Hey , hope everyone is doing well. Thank you in advance.

I Kissed & Received oral sex from a co-worker.

She later tells me she did a Pap smear a couple months ago before me which she had a positive HPV result on HPV Aptima Test but negative for reflex test HPV Genotypes 16/18/45.

Im still learning about this so excuse my lack of knowledge on this topic. My question was if she had a Pap smear that usually means she has it genitally right?

And also do you think I may have contracted even if it was one oral

experience on the receiving end, (her mouth to my penis) our genitals didn’t touch. We did kiss for maybe 5 mins before the oral started. Maybe touched her butt once or twice with my hand but that’s about it. Thanks in advance and appreciate all your feedback.

Main question

Do you think I possibly contracted HPV either genitally or orally from this one experience? I don’t want to pass it to a future partner without knowing. I’m assuming since I just received oral sex from her on my penis without condom and we kissed the only way I can get it is if she has HPV in her mouth right?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

38 months ago

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. By and large, this was a low risk event and not something to worry about. Your partner’s abnormal PAP smear indicates the presence of genital HPV and does not mean that she has oral HPV. In general oral HPV is substantially less common than genital infection. Further, transmission is unlikely to occur on any single encounter ( your receipt of oral sex, HPV is not thought to be transmitted through kissing).

In addition, you do not mention your age but if you have been sexually active in the past, it is more likely than not that you have already acquired HPV in the past (over 80% of sexually active adults have acquired HPV even though most are unaware of this (and partner number males little difference).

Bottom line, this was a low risk exposure and not something you can do anything about at this time. I really would not worry about it.

I hope this perspective is helpful. EWH

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37 months ago

Thank you very much Dr.Hook for your feed back. I do have an update regarding the situation. Looks like that partner that had positive HPV test/Pap in November 2021 . Our encounter was on Jun 14th, 2022, she then had a follow up pap/ HPV done on June 16th, 2022. ( 2 days after our encounter) which came out negative for HPV and normal Pap. I do have a couple follow up questions.

1. The only way I could of gotten HPV from this experience is if she still had an oral HPV from that November test? What are the chances (percentage % wise) I did get infected from this particular experience ? Does the negative Pap 2 days after her giving me oral sex(one & only time) (fellatio) change anything or is it likely she still may have had a lingering oral infection from November or before?

2. Lets just say she did have an HPV infection in her throat/oral cavitity. How likely percentage wise would be my likelihood of catching it from this one incident(percentage wise %) (fellatio only) and in general how often is HPV spread to the penis from receiving oral? (Fellatio)

3. There is a new amazing girl im getting to know. Am I risking her health, and risk her getting HPV if we start having sex due to this expereince?

Thank you so much for all you do. You are truly helping many peolpe and making a difference with this service thank you!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

37 months ago

Thanks for your follow any additional information:

1. There is no evidence that HPV is transmitted by kissing. As I’ve already told you, that she may have had genital HPV ( and it sounds like her genital infection had cleared by the time of your encounter)does not necessarily mean that she had oral HPV. There is no meaningful way to provide you a percentage estimate that you were infected through the encounter you describe. I would however characterize it is very very low. As I also tried to indicate above, it is simply not something to worry about or something you can do anything about at this time.

2. This question basically repeats part of question number one. Repeating the question will not change the answer. I cannot provide you with an estimated likelihood of infection. It is very, very low.

3. Absolutely not. HPV is in common innocuous infection. I believe your concerns about HPV are overstated. Her past history nor your exposure should not in anyway hamper the evolution of your relationship.

EWH

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