This is pretty gross I’m sorry! Since having kids I struggle with constipation and have to sometimes help things along with a finger. I wash my hands after this thoroughly of course but I’m not sure I always get everything and moreover know I probably scratch and so on at night. I have tested positive for anal HPV and am worried that I might have spread HPV on my fingers elsewhere like absent mindedly rubbing my mouth or eyes with trace of fecal matter - is this something that happens?

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. I’ll be glad to comment.---

Thank you that is reassuring. Im not too worried Ive spread it to kids as always wash hands before doing anything with them, more that I have spread infection myself elsewhere in body. I think there is meant to be skin to skin contact and cant see anywhere that hpv is spread in stools but have seen some stis can be and so feeling paranoid.

Just to add - I did an oral dna HPV gargle test at the dentist that came back negative - I know theyre not 100% or FDA recognised but seems like this is probably ok, just wondering if traces could be risky. Have stopped the habit now since getting the positive test just worried historically.

Actually - new to this site and reading over previous answers think this looks ok as not spread through fluids (would stools be included in that?) just infexted skin. Guess there could be bits of skin in there (sorry this is really gross) but think would be unlikely to point that along with the negative test I should just put this from my mind… if you can please just confirm I have got this right I think we can close this - thanks so so much!

Thanks for the additional information. For persons to spread HPV from place to place on themselves is virtually unheard of with the possible exception of when persons shave over existing warts. The process of touching an infected area with your finger and then touching another part of your body is really not a meaningful risk. HPV is not spread in stool.---