HPV risks?
October 5, 2010 11:39 AM Subscribe
What should I do about my potentially having HPV?
I've only had sex with one girl; we always used a condom when having vaginal intercourse, but we've given each other oral unprotected.
Recently she disclosed to me that she probably has HPV, and she's not sure when she got it (if she has it). This is relevant because I'm probably going to have another sex partner soon, and I don't want to pass on any STDs. I don't have any clearly visible warts or sores, but I know HPV can be dormant, so I'm still concerned. How do I check for it or get tested? What can I do to make this less risky for both of us?
I've only had sex with one girl; we always used a condom when having vaginal intercourse, but we've given each other oral unprotected.
Recently she disclosed to me that she probably has HPV, and she's not sure when she got it (if she has it). This is relevant because I'm probably going to have another sex partner soon, and I don't want to pass on any STDs. I don't have any clearly visible warts or sores, but I know HPV can be dormant, so I'm still concerned. How do I check for it or get tested? What can I do to make this less risky for both of us?
Whoops wrong link above: is right for the CDC fact sheet on HPV.
posted by pointystick at 11:53 AM on October 5, 2010
posted by pointystick at 11:53 AM on October 5, 2010
See a doctor or local clinic. There are tests for HPV. There are several strains of HPV: some cause warts, some cause cervical cancer, some don't do much of anything. Some are more active than others.
If you do have HPV: depending on the strain of HPV, you could point your partner to receive HPV vaccine. Again, something a doctor/clinic could advise you of.
Lastly, I am not a doctor, so you should go. Get tested. Ask questions.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:54 AM on October 5, 2010
If you do have HPV: depending on the strain of HPV, you could point your partner to receive HPV vaccine. Again, something a doctor/clinic could advise you of.
Lastly, I am not a doctor, so you should go. Get tested. Ask questions.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:54 AM on October 5, 2010
Use the googles to find a free STD clinic near you and get tested.
There are vaccines. Ask your doctor if Gardasil™ is right for you. (Yes, guys can get vaccinated now, too.) Condoms help, at least for the areas they cover up. You should be using them anyway.
HPV not that big a deal, though. Most people get it at some point in their lives. Its effects are bad, but it's not like you'll become a pariah just because you have HPV. You still need to disclose it to all future sexual partners, though.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:02 PM on October 5, 2010
There are vaccines. Ask your doctor if Gardasil™ is right for you. (Yes, guys can get vaccinated now, too.) Condoms help, at least for the areas they cover up. You should be using them anyway.
HPV not that big a deal, though. Most people get it at some point in their lives. Its effects are bad, but it's not like you'll become a pariah just because you have HPV. You still need to disclose it to all future sexual partners, though.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:02 PM on October 5, 2010
My question about HPV might be helpful. I am not a doctor but Ive read a lot about it and the advice from doctors is mostly all the same.
Recently she disclosed to me that she probably has HPV, and she's not sure when she got it (if she has it).
Not sure if she self diagnosed this or if a doctor said probably, but she needs to have a regular pap to check for cervical cancer. This is a good practice in general but the main serious risk from HPV is cancer. Only certain strains can cause cancer though, there are many different strains of HPV rather than just one, and the cancer ones are generally strains than the wart ones.
I don't have any clearly visible warts or sores, but I know HPV can be dormant, so I'm still concerned.
Most guys dont get any symptoms so yes this does not tell you that you are clean.
How do I check for it or get tested?
I may be wrong but I don't think there is currently a test for men. You pretty much have to consider yourself exposed, and in my opinion you are morally obligated to tell any future partners about this risk. HPV is incredibly common though, to the point that the majority of people who have had sex have been exposed at some point.
What can I do to make this less risky for both of us?
Condoms dont protect against it so theres not a lot you can do other than not have sex. Which sucks, I know but thats what a doctor would tell you most likely. As a young male with few sexual partners you are a good candidate for the vaccine though, which won't do anything about previous exposure but will help protect you from the most common serious strains that you have not been exposed to yet.
posted by sickle cell moon at 12:03 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Recently she disclosed to me that she probably has HPV, and she's not sure when she got it (if she has it).
Not sure if she self diagnosed this or if a doctor said probably, but she needs to have a regular pap to check for cervical cancer. This is a good practice in general but the main serious risk from HPV is cancer. Only certain strains can cause cancer though, there are many different strains of HPV rather than just one, and the cancer ones are generally strains than the wart ones.
I don't have any clearly visible warts or sores, but I know HPV can be dormant, so I'm still concerned.
Most guys dont get any symptoms so yes this does not tell you that you are clean.
How do I check for it or get tested?
I may be wrong but I don't think there is currently a test for men. You pretty much have to consider yourself exposed, and in my opinion you are morally obligated to tell any future partners about this risk. HPV is incredibly common though, to the point that the majority of people who have had sex have been exposed at some point.
What can I do to make this less risky for both of us?
Condoms dont protect against it so theres not a lot you can do other than not have sex. Which sucks, I know but thats what a doctor would tell you most likely. As a young male with few sexual partners you are a good candidate for the vaccine though, which won't do anything about previous exposure but will help protect you from the most common serious strains that you have not been exposed to yet.
posted by sickle cell moon at 12:03 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
You should probably not freak out because it's not a big deal if you're symptomless. There's no test for men either, so unless you get symptoms you'll never know if you have it anyway. Just tell future sex partners that you may have been exposed and ask if they get regular pap smears.
Or, do nothing. Some would say this is unethical, but if every symptomless male that may have been exposed to HPV told new sex partners, then some rediculous amount of men, like seriously 90% would be telling their partners this.
posted by WeekendJen at 12:28 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Or, do nothing. Some would say this is unethical, but if every symptomless male that may have been exposed to HPV told new sex partners, then some rediculous amount of men, like seriously 90% would be telling their partners this.
posted by WeekendJen at 12:28 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
The other 10% would be lying out of ignorance.
posted by WeekendJen at 12:28 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by WeekendJen at 12:28 PM on October 5, 2010
Guys I know have had zero luck finding a doctor who can/will test them for HPV.
Considering all the variables and how common it is, if you ever have any sort of unprotected sexual contact, penetrative or otherwise, oral or genital, you may as well consider yourself "exposed".
posted by hermitosis at 1:03 PM on October 5, 2010
Considering all the variables and how common it is, if you ever have any sort of unprotected sexual contact, penetrative or otherwise, oral or genital, you may as well consider yourself "exposed".
posted by hermitosis at 1:03 PM on October 5, 2010
HPV is so common that I (and I imagine many others who are educated about STDs) simply operate on the presumption that everyone I sleep with has been exposed. The serious threat from HPV is that one of the strains causes cervical cancer, so the best (and really, only) thing you can do, other than remaining celibate, is to encourage your girlfriends to be vigilant about their yearly pap smears.
posted by frobozz at 2:08 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by frobozz at 2:08 PM on October 5, 2010
The serious threat from HPV is that one of the strains causes cervical cancer
Also vulval, vaginal, anal, and penile cancer, FYI. It's (essentially) the only cause of cervical cancer, but it doesn't only cause cervical cancer.
Like I said: Vaccines are your friend.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:18 PM on October 5, 2010
Also vulval, vaginal, anal, and penile cancer, FYI. It's (essentially) the only cause of cervical cancer, but it doesn't only cause cervical cancer.
Like I said: Vaccines are your friend.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:18 PM on October 5, 2010
Something like 60% of sexually active Americans have HPV.
HPV is spreadable even if you use a condom, or via sexual acts that are not usually associated with condoms/dental dams/etc.
There basically isn't anything you can personally do during sex to avoid getting or transmitting it. (Unless you have one of the strains that causes genital warts, which is a whole different deal.)
If you are still at an age where most of your female partners are under 25 and may not already have HPV, you should recommend that they look into gardasil. Assuming you are a guy, it is unlikely that your insurance covers it, and most doctors would not consider you among the recommended cohort to be vaccinated. If your doctor recommends it, by all means. But keep in mind that gardasil has NOT been officially recommended for men as of yet.
posted by Sara C. at 7:58 PM on October 5, 2010
HPV is spreadable even if you use a condom, or via sexual acts that are not usually associated with condoms/dental dams/etc.
There basically isn't anything you can personally do during sex to avoid getting or transmitting it. (Unless you have one of the strains that causes genital warts, which is a whole different deal.)
If you are still at an age where most of your female partners are under 25 and may not already have HPV, you should recommend that they look into gardasil. Assuming you are a guy, it is unlikely that your insurance covers it, and most doctors would not consider you among the recommended cohort to be vaccinated. If your doctor recommends it, by all means. But keep in mind that gardasil has NOT been officially recommended for men as of yet.
posted by Sara C. at 7:58 PM on October 5, 2010
If you are still at an age where most of your female partners are under 25 and may not already have HPV, you should recommend that they look into gardasil.
Hell, even people who already have HPV should get vaccinated - might as well be protected against whatever strains one doesn't already have. You should at least look into it for future protection. As for now, pretty much everyone and their mom has HPV, and it's really not a huge deal, but telling partners that you may have been exposed is the appropriate thing to do so that they will be extra vigilant with paps and such.
posted by naoko at 8:39 PM on October 5, 2010
Hell, even people who already have HPV should get vaccinated - might as well be protected against whatever strains one doesn't already have. You should at least look into it for future protection. As for now, pretty much everyone and their mom has HPV, and it's really not a huge deal, but telling partners that you may have been exposed is the appropriate thing to do so that they will be extra vigilant with paps and such.
posted by naoko at 8:39 PM on October 5, 2010
even people who already have HPV should get vaccinated
This is not true, at least in terms of what doctors are recommending these days. I had my first abnormal pap smear at 24 and was told by my (very awesome and super sex-positive) doctor that gardasil was not recommended in my case. Granted it's been a few years since then, so my info may not be current. But last I heard, gardasil is only widely recommended for women under 25 who have not already been diagnosed with HPV.
posted by Sara C. at 8:41 PM on October 5, 2010
This is not true, at least in terms of what doctors are recommending these days. I had my first abnormal pap smear at 24 and was told by my (very awesome and super sex-positive) doctor that gardasil was not recommended in my case. Granted it's been a few years since then, so my info may not be current. But last I heard, gardasil is only widely recommended for women under 25 who have not already been diagnosed with HPV.
posted by Sara C. at 8:41 PM on October 5, 2010
Relatedly, this thread is an intense debate over whether HPV is even disclosure-worthy or not - to the extent that there is any consensus, it seems to be "yes you should disclose it, but also you can basically assume that everyone you sleep with has it whether they mention it or not."
posted by naoko at 8:45 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by naoko at 8:45 PM on October 5, 2010
Huh. My doctor told me differently - I had an abnormal pap at 20 and got the Gardasil vaccine at maybe 24 or 25 (a year or two ago; I don't quite remember). It makes sense to me that you'd want to be vaccinated against whatever you don't already have, but I'm certainly not an expert.
posted by naoko at 8:48 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by naoko at 8:48 PM on October 5, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pointystick at 11:52 AM on October 5, 2010