[Question #9257] Do I have anything to worry about with new GF's HPV

Avatar photo
34 months ago
A girl i just started a relationship with just informed me she has/had HPV but has been negative for more than 7 years. This is my first experience being with someone that has HPV and so I've been reading as much as i can regarding HPV and relationships. I realize you can't say for certain that HPV is gone and so I've been left with some questions. Is it possible to test negative for several years but still have wart outbreaks? If so, would those warts put me at a higher risk for contacting HPV compared to non-wart times? Assuming she hasn't had any wart outbreaks in a long time (haven't asked coz that seems way too personal for this early in the relationship) do i have much to be concerned about?
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
34 months ago
Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your quesitons.  The short answer is no, you have nothing to worry about.  Now for some of the facts behind this:

while HPV infections can occasionally recur, even after being absent for long periods, this is relatively rare.  Since recurrence is rare, so is transmission.

More importantly however, if you have had other sexual partners in the past, it is far, far more likely than not, whether or not you know it, that you have had HPV- probably on multiple occasions and that your body's immune system has controlled the infection. Over 80% of sexually active Americans have had HPV in the past.  Following becoming sexually active, by 2-3 years after beginning to have sex, 40-50% of women who have only a single sex partner have acquired HPV.  Bottom line, again, whether or not they know it, most people have had HPV and suffer no consequences.  Most typically (over 98% of the time) over a period of 2-3 years most people eliminate their infections.

Finally, if you are concerned about HPV (and even if you're not), the HPV vaccine is recommended for all sexually active persons under 45.  It is safe, highly effective and the best way to prevent HPV.

I hope this informationis helpful.  EWH
---