[Question #9791] Oral HPV risk for children

Avatar photo
29 months ago
Dear Dr Hunter. First, I would like to sincerely appologize for coming back again. I am the same person who ask question(9765). I have read your answers more than 20 times words by words. I understand from your deep heart, you really want me not to worry about HPV risk for my children. However, as you said and I also know, I have OCD and anxiety issue with HPV and worry HPV. I have difficulty to absolutely forget about HPV risk to my children. 
I understand that eventually over 90% men will get or had recovered genital HPV and it is an normal expection from human sex. I also understand that many men masturbate. However, I regret that I should have washed my hands before attending babies may put them at oral high risk HPV. I cant even afford a tiny/slim chance there. 
I read your reply that HPV is ONLY transmited by sex and if there is no sex abuse, no HPV risk for my children. I really hope the situation regarding HPV can be so simple. I read online that there are some people catching HPV without known common transmission route (without sex, even virgins). I am worring that after maturbation, without washing hands and taking care of babies(handling pacifer and put into his mouth, babies also like licking my hands. My hands may transfer HR-HPV into their mouths and cause infection. Based on your previous answer, you do think it is no risk for HPV transmission? Is it near zero risk (like people hit by lightening)? Can you explain more (the differece between this and oral sex)? 
Sorry Dr Hunter. I am taking antidepressents and seeing phycatrist. Hope you are not angry with me and can give me more assurance. I am worried death that my babies catching oral HR-HPV from my masturbation to hand to their mouths. 

Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum although I'm sorry you felt the need.  As you know, Dr. Handsfield and I share the Forum and questions are picked up at random.  We have worked together for nearly 40 years and while our verbal styles vary, the content of our replies is always the same.  On this occasion I happened to be on the Forum and to pick up your new questions. In preparing to answer your questions, I reviewed your interaction with Dr. Handsfield and completely agree with all that he said.  Your questions repeat your earlier questions and the answers will not change.  Your fears are unwarranted- your children and family members are not at risk for the HPV infections that you worry about (please note, you DO NOT know that you have HPV and the history you provide suggests that your risk of infection is low).  HPV infections are not transmitted to any meaningful extent by transfer of infection on a person's hands or inanimate objects.  To use the wording you suggested, your children are more likely to be hit by lightening than to get HPV in the manner you describe.  

Your posts suggest your combination of guilt over having seen a commercial sex worker and your OCD are combining to make you miserable.  Rather than repeating your questions which have no basis in fact, I suggest that you work with your psychiatrist to address these specific concerns.  I have nothing more to add other than to entirely agree with Dr. Handsfield and therefore will close by pasting in his earlier reply to you.  

"Having HPV, including HR types, is a normal, expected, unavoidable aspect of human sex. If your only sex prior to marriage was a single CSW contact, you might not be infected -- but it doesn't matter if you were, and probably you should assume you have it. But so does everybody else. HPV is never transmitted non sexually to family members; your children are not at risk, assuming there has been no sexual abuse in your family. You did not put them at risk of cancer, oral or any other. And the virus is never transmitted by environmental contact or exposure, by doorknobs or anything else. The virus is ONLY transmitted by sex."

I happened to be on the Forum when your question appeared.  Further replies may take longer.  EWH
---
Avatar photo
29 months ago
Dear Dr Hook. 
1. You mention that  " Your fears are unwarranted- your children and family members are not at risk for the HPV infections that you worry about (please note, you DO NOT know that you have HPV and the history you provide suggests that your risk of infection is low)."
Just double confirm that even if I did catch high risk HPV, the statement that my children are not at risk for HPV infection from masturbation-hands-baby mouth transfer, right?
2. The masturbations happen several times. Will this mutiply together and make the HPV transmission to be worried?
3. Can I absolutely forget about HPV and move on from the situation i described (masturbation-hands-baby mouth transfer)? 
Again deeply sorry and please forgive my OCD and anxiety. My tone and questions may sound ridiculous to you. Thank you for answer this again. 

Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
29 months ago
These are once again, repetitive questions. As I told you, the answers will not change. Therefore, the answers will be brief:
1.  Correct
2. The number of you masturbated makes no difference whatsoever. No change in my response.
3.  Yes

EWH 
---
Avatar photo
28 months ago
Dear Dr. Sorry for asking one follow up question regarding high risk HPV risk to my baby. Recently, after masturbation, when i was briefly washing my hands, one toy of my baby was close to the water tap in the basin. When i wash hands, some water may carry HPV may splash on the toy surface, but the toy may not be washed by the tap water as it still got some distance to the water flow. Later, my baby put the toy in his mouth and played with it when he was having bath. I guess this is a very similar case like the question i asked before. Can i comfirm even if there were HPV came onto the toy surface, there is no risk for my baby to catch HR-HPV right? 

Avatar photo
28 months ago
Even if water carry large amount of HPV virus to the toy surface, still risk free, right? Sorry for asking. Thank you for.answering
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
28 months ago
Final response.  HPV is not transmitted through water contact/splashing.  The scenario you’ve described is not plausible but signals how severe your unwarranted fears are.  I encourage you to seek counseling with a professional to address them.

This completes this thread.  You should not need to return with further anxiety driven, hypothetical, “ what if” questions.  If you do, your question may be deleted without a response and without return of your posting fee.

EWH 
---