[Question #9322] Hpv transmission

34 months ago

In June 2019 had 2 genital warts removed from my penis.Had a few recurrences up till about December 2020.Had these removed and have not seen a wart since.Have avoided intimacy up till last week as I don't want to pass hpv to anyone else.Was with a girl last week and was rubbing round her vagina with my hand and fingers.I then used the same hand to masturbate till I climaxed.If I got some vaginal fluid on my hand that I then masturbated with am i at risk of getting any std??. I'm terrified of the warts returning and hope I didn't put myself in danger with this girl.My questions are am I at risk of hpv or any other std from this exposure?? Also how long after wart removal am I infectious to others?? It's been nearly 2 years since I've seen a wart thank God.I would like to get back to having a normal sex life but theres lots of contrasting information online.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

33 months ago

Welcome tp our Forum. Thanks for your question. I'll be happy to provide some information, as well as a bit of perspective.

First, your own warts and recent encounter. It's been nearly two years since your own warts were removed. The longer since removal/treatment without a recurrence the less likely a future recurrence is. If you have not had your warts recur in two years, chances are very low that they will.

You mention that you are concerned about future warts- two comments:

a. Most sexually active persons will have HPV at some point in their lives. Even monogamy does not protect- with a year of initiating sexual intercourse with a single partner, nearly 50% of women will have acquired HPV so, for all practical purposes, everyone will or has had HPV. The single most important thing you can do to prevent acquiring future HPV infection is get vaccinated. It will reduce your chances of getting HPV types you have not yet had and prevent future infection with the types you had.

b. Warts/HPV are, for most practical purposes nothing more than a nuisance. Well over 97% of HPV infections go away without treatment in two years after detection. Those that are present can be managed with routine sexual health check ups.

Now, regarding your recent encounter- this was a largely no risk event. Masturbation, even when partners get each others' genital secretions on one another is safe sex with no risk for most STIs, including HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc. and is very, very low risk for viral STIs such as HPV or herpes. I would not worry about the encounter you describe and see no reason for testing of any sort.

I hope this information is helpful. EWH

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33 months ago

Thank you for your reply doctor.

I have certainly considered getting vaccinated against hpv but at 35 am I too old? Would the vaccine help prevent future wart outbreaks if I already have or had the wart causing hpv???

Edward W. Hook M.D.

33 months ago

At 35 and having had other partners, you may have had HPV in the past without knowing it but that does not offset the benefits of vaccination which is now recommended for persons up to age 45. Given your concern about HPV, my advice remains to get it. EWH---