[Question #9178] HPV transmission to wife
35 months ago
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Good morning Dr's. I had protected sex with 3 CSWs in 2018 and 2019. Last contact in Oct 2019. My wife had a normal PAP in November 2020. I am worried that the Hpv will show up now when she she goes for next test in October 2022. Please help. Thank you
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
35 months ago
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Welcome to our forum. Thanks for your questions.
Relatively soon after beginning sexual activity most Americans have acquired more than one different types of HPV infection. One of the best studies was performed in women and showed that within a year of beginning sexual intercourse nearly 50% of women who have had only a single sexual partner have acquired HPV.. As a result of many studies of this sort, when HPV is detected, it is virtually impossible to tell where it came from. The infection is widespread and can appear long after an exposure.
At this time you do not know that your wife will have HPV detected on her Pap smear however, if you or she had other sexual partners at any time before your marriage any HPV detected could be recurrence of long-standing infection. This is simply not something to worry about at this time. EWH
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35 months ago
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Thank you for your response Dr Hook. I have been married for 11 years and am the only one to have been unfaithful. If my wife were infected by my actions, do you think the pap test in 2020 would have detected it?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
35 months ago
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Again, even infections that were acquired long ago could appear now.
I suspect that if you had acquired HPV the infection would’ve shown up in the 2020 gynecologic exam. At the moment Howe you are worrying about something that has not yet happened.
If you anticipate future relationships outside your marriage, the HPV vaccine would offer a degree of protection for you from acquiring and therefore transmitting new HPV infections. EWH
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