[Question #9352] HPV Question and Concern
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33 months ago
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Good Morning Dr.,I hope this finds you well. I submitted a question two years ago regarding HPV and gential warts. To recap that question and conversation I was very concerned and anxious over having gential warts off and on in my teenage years and college years (1994-2001). I first saw something at 13 and heard about them when I was 19 and my girlfriend at the time went to the gynecologist and they said she had a wart or HPV. They gave her some cream and said don't worry about it. When she brought this to my attention I didn't think it was a big deal and was supportive, but never said it was most liklry from me. I thought of a wart as something minor and not a big deal. Before I dated her, I had other girlfriends and had this issue after I dated her with other girls. I still had warts (again not thinking anything of it). In college, I had an infirmary docator tell me i had gential warts after doing an examine for swollen lymph nodes near my groin. I still played it off and never brought it to my girlfriends attention whom I dated for two years. I was sixteen the first time I had sex and had 12 partners up untiul I met my wife in 2002. I had sex and oral in those years and was still in denial. My wife and i got married in July of 2005 and in the fall that same year all this stuff started coming out about HPV and cancer. I was completely thrown back and distraught form this. I had extreme anxiety and depression form this. I told my wife about everything and she was very cool and didn't think it was a big deal. The low-risk form I believe I had was the only thing that somewhat put me at ease. I wanted to go back and try and contact all my past partners that I could to tell them, eventhough a few were one night stands and I had no way of communicating with them. My wife said that was a bad idea as I would be causing undue stress and anxiety. Almost every sexaully active person will contract HPV at some point. I have gone to confession and started seeing a therapist
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
33 months ago
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Welcome back to the Forum. n this occasion I rather than Dr. Handsfield happened to pick up your question so now you will get my opinion, which is the same as Dr. Handfield's was two years ago.
I note that for this question you used some of the same phrasing that you did in your earlier question and, perhaps not surprisingly, I can copy much of Dr. Handsfield's original response in this one- he said "Everybody (over 90%) gets one or more genital HPV infections -- it's a normal, expected, unavoidable consequence of human sex. Your own naivete about HPV and genital warts in the 1990s, was entirely normal -- the large majority of people didn't have the understandings that evolved over the last 2-3 decades. And in some ways those earlier perceptions were valid: genital warts ARE a trivial, minor inconvenience for most people -- not an important health risk. And the types of HPV that cause warts don't cause cancer."
To add to this. I will point out that during the time you were moat sexual active with other partners, vaccination for HPV had become recommended and would have protected partners who were vaccinated. I will also point out that most HPV infections are self limited and those that persist are readily detected and managed as long as persons follow recommended health screening practices.
Bottom line, I think you are feeling far more guilty than is warranted or appropriate. I urge you to move forward without concern. I do note that when you were on the Forum two years ago Dr. Handsfield recommended that you seek professional counseling to address your concerns. I second that, even more emphatically upon the realization that this concern has lingered for two years. you need to move forward and I suspect that will require some professional help. Please seek counseling. EWH
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33 months ago
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Thank you Dr. Hook for your prompt response. I am seeing a counselor and we discussed this in our last session. I tend to overthink things. This is why I have a hard time letting go. I would never want to hurt someone else or mess up someones life due to my actions and or transgessions. I want the opposite for everyone. I want everyone to healthy, safe, and happy. This is why it hurts so bad!! I am a catholic and have had discussions and repented with my pastor who has said to let this go. I've given it to Christ. From time to time there are certain triggers that bring it back up: ad, news story, social media, etc...it's like getting sucker punched. When this happens I get anxious that I didn't do enough and I need to go tell as many past partners as I can. This is the cycle I need to stop. I appreciate all your help and advice.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
33 months ago
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Thanks for your explanation. This is helpful. I am pleased for you that you were working with a counselor.
Please remember you have received similar advice from your wife, your pastor, and for medical professionals. Your concern and care for others is laudatory. You mentioned that, on occasion, something you see in the news, or perhaps online, re-initiates this cycle of guilt. As you consider on-line sources and the media in general, please believe that part of their goal is to get your attention. As a result they are all to likely to resort to sensationalism and sometimes choose to amplify statements or interpretations which they feel are likely to get your attention. I.
I wish you the best. EWH
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