[Question #9163] HPV Transmission

35 months ago

Hi Dr. I'm a Vietnamese female, 21 yo.

I have been having sex for over 2 years now. Both I and my boyfriend are the first partner of each other and we have never had any genital contact with anyone before we start our relationship. We are on a long-term relationship for almost 6 years. We're faithful and always use condoms. Both of us don't have any types of STDs, we're healthy.

We usually go to local hotels in VN. But many hotels don't change bedsheets and sometimes towels. After having sex, our genital areas have scratches, of course, and I'm so afraid that if infected couples had sex on the bed and used towel to dry their body or even their genital areas, and the hotels didn’t change them, just let the sheets and towels dry. It's possible to transmit HPV virus, especially genital warts?

My questions are It's possible for us to get HPV, especially genital warts if:

1) We use dry towels (which an infected person used them to dry their genital areas before) to dry our genital areas.

2) If our hands touch the dry bedsheet (an infected couple had sex on it before us) then touch our genitals that have some scratches after having sex.

3) Our genital areas (with scratches ) directly touch the infected bed sheet.

35 months ago

4) It's possible to HPV viruses to live on dry surfaces, wet faucets, ect but still possible to transmit? If so, when our hands or our genital area directly touch them and then touch our genitals areas that have some scratches after having sex, it's possible for us to get HPV viruses?

I read lots of information on this website and I know that HPV and STDs cannot transmit through dry objects but what if our genital areas have scratches after having sex?

35 months ago

I did my pap test and HPV 2 weeks ago, all negative. But I'm still so worried and I want to hear opinions from experts. Hope your opinions are no risk, no worry. Thanks a lot

35 months ago

Can HPV viruses live on wet faucets, shower heads, or things in the bathroom and still have the ability to transmit to us if we touch that thing first and then touch our genital areas which have scratches? Some VNese doctors said that it's impossible but some online doctors said it's possible. I don't know which opinion is correct so I want to hear from you.

35 months ago

More details, If our hands touch the area that has the virus on dry bedsheets and touch our genital area during sex, so if there are have the virus and with that virus, through the process of friction, can I get HPV that way. Hope your answer is no risk, no worry.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

35 months ago

Welcome to our Forum. Thanks for your questions. I'll be glad to comment. HPV infections, including genital warts are far and away most commonly transmitted through direct sexual contact. In science we can "never say never" as strange and unusual things do happen on very rare occasions but most experts do not consider contact with previously used sheets or towels a meaningful risk factor for HPV acquisition. FYI, condoms reduce but do not entirely eliminate the risk for HPV infection as they may not entirely cover an infected area. The best way to prevent HPV is for you and your partner to avoid HPV is to take the HPV vaccine which is safe, well tolerated and highly effective for HPV infection.

Your recent negative PAP smear and HPV test suggest that you are not currently nfected with HPV.

In answer to your specific questions:

1) We use dry towels (which an infected person used them to dry their genital areas before) to dry our genital areas.

See above, very, very unlikely to lead to infection.

2) If our hands touch the dry bedsheet (an infected couple had sex on it before us) then touch our genitals that have some scratches after having sex.

Same answer. HPV is not transmitted on one persons hands to another, even with abrasions and scratches.

3) Our genital areas (with scratches ) directly touch the infected bed sheet.

Same answer.

HPV is not acquired through contact with contaminated shower heads, toilet seats, etc.

Bottom line, no meaningful risk. I do urge you and your partner however to get the the vaccine. Better safe than sorry. EWH

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35 months ago

Thank for your replies. It's so helpful with me. I really want to hear the answers from you guys as experts in this field than anybody. I really happy to get your answer that all of my contacts are no risk, no meaningful risk.

So is it same answer for this question, right?

"More details, If our hands touch the area that has the virus on dry bedsheets and touch our genital area during sex, so if there are have the virus and with that virus, through the process of friction, can I get HPV that way. Hope your answer is no risk, no worry."

Last but no least, I am very happy to know this useful website because I get a lot of knowledge from you guys answers. Have a nice day.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

35 months ago

Correct, same answer- no risk related to your hands touching contaminated bedsheets or towels. EWH---

35 months ago

Hi Dr.Hook. I know this is my last follow-up questions but I want to clarify a few things and clear my anxieties.

1) I read an answer from a Dr on Healthtap that "Genital HPV has rather strict living requirements that mean it will die almost immediately when exposed to air/drying or other environmental factors outside the body. That makes transmission through the described process impossible.". Is it true?

2) As you mentioned, genital HPV is almost always transmitted by DIRECT contact with an infected person. A person cannot be infected when the genital area directly touches contaminated objects (towels, bed sheets) even though the genital area has scratches. Is that correct?

3) Again, as you mentioned. A person cannot become infected with genital HPV when their hands touched contaminated objects and then touch their genitals even if there are scratches. Right?

4) I used public toilet at my university, and my hand touched the doorknob before I touch my genital area without washing my hand. If there are an infected person's secretions on that doorknob, can I get genital HPV that way? I read Dr. Handsfield said that once the discharge has dried there is no risk for HPV and STDs.

5) Some Vietnamese doctors have said that a person can become infected with genital HPV when the flakes of skins containing the HPV virus (shedding from an infected person) get into the tear or scratch in his/her genital areas. I read that both you and Dr. Handsfiled said that genital HPV viruses require massage/ friction of the virus into tissues for transmission to occur. So I have a little confused. Can you give me a short explanation for this?

6) Can water, alcohol, soap, and common laundry detergent destroy genital HPV viruses or make them non-infectious?

7) Should I stop worrying about indirect genital HPV infections?

Once again thank you very much. Your answers are really helpful to me.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

35 months ago

Straight to your follow-up questions:

1. I cannot comment on the basis of the statement regarding the viability of HPV. Likewise, I do know that HPV is spread far and away most commonly through direct sexual contact and not through transfer on hands or inanimate objects.

2. Correct, see above. Whether or not HPV is very, very rarely spread on inanimate objects is difficult to say.

3. This is another repetitive statement. It is correct and addresses a question answered above

4. Sigh. Another repetitive variation on your past 3 questions. No meaningful risk.

5. I am not familiar with the theory that you stay. As Dr. Handsfield and I have both said repeatedly, friction plays an important role in transmission of HPV

6. Yes

7. I am confused about why you are restating questions and answers that have already been addressed. It’s over already told you your current risk for HPV is close to zero. As I also said, I strongly recommend that you received the HPV vaccine.

This completes this thread. EWH

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