Do you tell your partner about HPV even though r/o - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

healthnut76 · 09-19-2005, 08:44 PM

there isn't much u can do about it as a woman except to get pap smears often and men don't really get any symptoms from the cancer causing kind. also many docs tell u it isn't necessary to tell them. and it seems that so many people have it (something like 80%) and they don't test men for it so what to do?

Thisby · 09-19-2005, 09:34 PM

Your info is just a little off. The claim is actually 80% of people will be exposed to it at some point in their lives . That's quite different from 80% (or whatever percent the source says) having it.

Most people will rid themselves of the virus within 2 years.

And the strains of HPV virus that are known to cause cervical cancer are not the onces that cause genital warts so people are worrying about it for 2 very separate reasons.

No one wants to get genital warts (which is what most people are posting here about) so if you have genital warts, it would just be plain ignorant not to let your partner know. IMO, if someone has genital warts, that's something that should be disclosed because that usually results in doctors visits, treatment, feeling embarrassed, etc.

If you know you have another strain of HPV because of a positive PAP test, but no warts, or not the genital kind, then that's something else, but it would still be common courtesy to tell your partner(s) so they can at least have the option of informing future partners and spare them a possible positive PAP test in their future. Again, IMO, telling is just the right thing to do.

healthnut76 · 09-19-2005, 09:53 PM

thanks for the info- i have the cancer causing kind and have never seen any warts but had one abnormal pap -i've only had one partner in the past two and a half years but we broke up and i am wondering why my doc says i don't have to tell future partners. isn't that how this gets spread? also there is no test for men so how would he know if had it or would pass another strain on to me? I would want to tell a new partner especially because i don't sleep around and get tested for things before i sleep with anyone and make him get tested as well, but don't want to freak him out either. just feeling weird about the whole situation.

ethera · 09-19-2005, 11:06 PM

If a guy had a strain that shows symptoms, it doesn't mean he caouldn't also have the strain ( the one that doesn't show symptoms ) that causes cervical cancer.

I also think a person should be told, if they have been or would exposed to HPV.

confusedemotion · 09-20-2005, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thisby

Your info is just a little off. The claim is actually 80% of people will be exposed to it at some point in their lives . That's quite different from 80% (or whatever percent the source says) having it.

Most people will rid themselves of the virus within 2 years.

And the strains of HPV virus that are known to cause cervical cancer are not the onces that cause genital warts so people are worrying about it for 2 very separate reasons.

No one wants to get genital warts (which is what most people are posting here about) so if you have genital warts, it would just be plain ignorant not to let your partner know. IMO, if someone has genital warts, that's something that should be disclosed because that usually results in doctors visits, treatment, feeling embarrassed, etc.

If you know you have another strain of HPV because of a positive PAP test, but no warts, or not the genital kind, then that's something else, but it would still be common courtesy to tell your partner(s) so they can at least have the option of informing future partners and spare them a possible positive PAP test in their future. Again, IMO, telling is just the right thing to do.

I keep reading that you body may rid itself of the virus..how the heck do you know this for sure??? I had clean paps for years and no warts, so everyone assumed my body rid itself of it....then I had an outbreak..so really it just lays dormant, doesn't really go away... unless your refering to other HPV viruses? I'm trying to find out if the HPV virus that causes warts is contagious even when it's domant or just when there's an outbreak....I'm thinking no one really knows this.