I have sent two messages in the past around a biopsy I had done back in 2012 when I had a red plaque of skin on my penis. The biopsy result stated 'clinical details: bowenoid papulosis' &  'Microsopic report: glans penis skin biopsy showing Bowen's disease'. This was treated with aldara cream in 2012 which was successful after a couple of attempts (went then had a reoccurrence around a year later).   

The September after my diagnosis in 2012 I went into university and to be completely honest I had a lack of understanding of the possible severity of high risk hpv which is linked to what I had and my dermatologist seemed very unconcerned from memory and just told me to stop stressing and it will disappear. Stupidly, when I went to university I had sexual intercourse with 5 girls over a 2 year period (3 in the first from memory). I  told the girls retrospectively in 2018 just to be safe alongside 2 other girls who I did oral/hand to genital with, however; there was 3 other girls who I did not tell (2 oral only, them to me  one who was hand to genital who I couldn't track) I know your advice on this at the time was not to partner trace retrospectively but recently I have had a trigger of anxiety over this with reading an article about high risk hpv causing oral cancer and I am really struggling to stop my anxiety with frequent googling.

From 2014-2022 I have had two long-term partners who I made aware of my past, one who has the vaccine and my current partner who hasn't but is up to date with smears (not had one since we have been together as not due I should add).

My worry is around high risk HPV & HPV 16 and that I have possibly caused cancer in people.

Apologies for all the detail, hard to articulate 10 years in a question.

Many Thanks

To put this in context, please remember the following:

A.  Within a year of two of the onset of sexual intercourse, 40-50% of persons will have acquired HPV 16.

B.  For more than 98-99% of those persons, the infection will resolve spontaneously without therapy.

C. For a small proportion, the infection will lead to pre-cancerous lesions which are readily detected and managed through recommended periodic screening.

D.  I know of no data to suggest  that partners to men with Bowen's disease are more likely than other HPV 16 exposed persons to develop cancer.

E.  HPV 16 is reliably prevented with the HPV vaccine.  All eligible persons should get vaccinated for HPV, even if they have already had an HPV infection (remember, the vaccine protects against infection with HPV strains they have not had in the past.

I hope this perspective is helpful.  That you had Bowen's disease is bad luck, nothing more and does not in any way that you pose a particular risk to future sex partners, particularly following successful treatment.  EWH

I have a few follow up questions:

- I know bowmen’s is linked to hpv16 however no particular strain is notified on my records, presuming this is normal (no hpv is generally) 

- hpv 16, how common is it? Is it widespread in the community my research that I’ve done states 90% clearance rate, is it higher than that?

- oral cancer in women from hpv 16, is this something I should be concerned about for my past partners? 

- should I tell my past partners who I had hand to genital with and oral with. These were both 10 years ago now

Thanks

- I know bowmen’s is linked to hpv16 however no particular strain is notified on my records, presuming this is normal (no hpv is generally) 

HPV is the strain.  There are not variants of HPV 16.  It is reasonable to assume that you had HPV-related Bowen's disease which was treated.  No need for further testing for HPV.

- hpv 16, how common is it? Is it widespread in the community my research that I’ve done states 90% clearance rate, is it higher than that?

HPV is widespread.  As I said above, within a year or two of beginning to have sexual intercourse 40-50% of sexually active persons will have acquired HPV 16.  The clearance rate, as I also said above, is far higher than 90%.  Your Bowen's disease was bad luck.

- oral cancer in women from hpv 16, is this something I should be concerned about for my past partners? 

HPV 16 is associated with oral cancer in both men and women but is uncommon.  Like genital HPV, the vast majority of oral HPV infections will clear without therapy 

- should I tell my past partners who I had hand to genital with and oral with. These were both 10 years ago now

No.

Bottom line- you had Bowen's disease.  It was successfully treated.  Following successful treatment there is no need for concern for transmission to partners.  Time for you to move forward.  EWH

Am I right in thinking oral hpv 16 is less common than genital and are the clearance rates the same in the high 90s?

When a person is unable to clear high risk hpv, as long as they regularly go for smear tests will this be enough to ensure no serious negative effects?

I was 22 at the time and the girls were all aged between 18-23 is this likely to be a positive due to age and ability to clear?

Thanks for the help

Yes, regular check-ups have much to do with proper and effective management of persistent HPV management.  This involves regular PAP smear/HPV testing for women and for men to see a dermatologist should unusual skin lesions appear and persist for more than a few weeks.  (Persistence and development of pre-malignant lesions is less common among men than women and the penis is more easily inspected that a women's uterine cervix)

Yes, any infections in your previous partners are likely to have cleared.  Further recommended HPV vaccination would do much to prevent future infections and may help clearance of existing ones (the latter point is not completely clear.

I hope this information is helpful.  As you know, we provide up to three responses to each client's questions.  As this is my third response, this thread will be closed shortly.  I encourage you to put your concerns behind you and move forward without lingering concerns.  EWH