HPV in Men - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

albert007 · 06-11-2008, 12:38 PM

I was recently diagnosed with Genital warts and received surgery to remove them...The Doctor stated that I had the HPV virus and would have to live with it the rest of my life...is this true...and how could I communicate this information to a new girlfriend++

newpatient485 · 06-11-2008, 12:46 PM

Well, it's estimated that 80% of sexually active women will get HPV at some point in your lives, so there's a good chance that any future partner already has it. I think the best thing you could do is explain what happen to your partner, practice safe sex and ask her if she's been vaccinated. Condoms don't fully protect you, and vaccination only protects you against 4 of the hundreds of strains, but they both help. Anyone you have contact with (well everyone for that matter) should also be getting yearly paps.

I suppose the "bright side" is that the strain you know you're infected with (you could be infected with others as there isn't a test for men) is considered "low risk." That is, the strains that cause warts aren't the ones that cause cancer. I know warts aren't exactly pleasant, but better than cancer in my opinion.

jenuine86 · 06-11-2008, 01:12 PM

MAKE HER GET A PAP!!!!!! now that you know you have the HPV that causes warts, the doctor can't see if you also have other strains of HPV that can cause CERVICAL CANCER.
and you absolutely have to tell anyone you've recently slept with..
if you don't have a girlfriend right now but are thinking about getting one in the future? Please be responsible and let her know. If anything, you have to say goodbye to those silly, lusty relationships because you could infect a girl for the rest of her life and it is far more painful for us women.. If she loves you, she will work around this or love you despite it..
Lucky for you GENTLEMEN... your bodies can control this virus more easily so that it can be dormant and reduce the risk of spreading.. but before you come in sexual contact with a girl, please remember that her life depends on you letting her know what risk she is taking.
I hope that doesn't sound too mean or scary.. but I wish I could have known because there is not a man before my current boyfriend that I would have risked this for.. If my boyfriend had known he'd had it and told me, I'd be far more understanding because I love him that much.

I am sorry though that you were infected.. male or female, it's horrible to have.

albert007 · 06-12-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenuine86

MAKE HER GET A PAP!!!!!! now that you know you have the HPV that causes warts, the doctor can't see if you also have other strains of HPV that can cause CERVICAL CANCER.
and you absolutely have to tell anyone you've recently slept with..
if you don't have a girlfriend right now but are thinking about getting one in the future? Please be responsible and let her know. If anything, you have to say goodbye to those silly, lusty relationships because you could infect a girl for the rest of her life and it is far more painful for us women.. If she loves you, she will work around this or love you despite it..
Lucky for you GENTLEMEN... your bodies can control this virus more easily so that it can be dormant and reduce the risk of spreading.. but before you come in sexual contact with a girl, please remember that her life depends on you letting her know what risk she is taking.
I hope that doesn't sound too mean or scary.. but I wish I could have known because there is not a man before my current boyfriend that I would have risked this for.. If my boyfriend had known he'd had it and told me, I'd be far more understanding because I love him that much.

I am sorry though that you were infected.. male or female, it's horrible to have.

thanks for your response Jenuine86...I truly will be honest about it, but it's hard to believe that any woman would still want to remain involved with me once she finds out ....I'm 48 and really embarrassed about this...and this truely does scares me a little...but again thanks for your comments and honesty...

jenuine86 · 06-12-2008, 02:56 PM

I'm really sorry you have to live with this too.. My boyfriend has been infected too and he doesn't care so much because he has me, but I can't help but feel horrible that I have infected him with a lifetime virus that, if he chose to be with anyone else, he'd still have to live with it and I would be to blame..
Ask your doctor what you can do though.. always wear a condom and let the girl know you are willing to take all precautions to make sure her health is safe. You might even save her life if you talk about it and advice her to test for it and take the vaccine if she doesn't have it! The warts will go away and if she is vaccinated against the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer and there are no warts to come in contact with, shouldn't she be fine? Just make sure that she's aware that you had a history of HPV and that she is vaccinated. (Please present this idea to your doctor first so he/she can give a professional opinion..)
Besides.. this is soooo common, she-whoever she may already have it.
Anyway.. please don't feel too bad about it and don't let yourself think you're damaged goods! It just means you have to be careful with your actions. It's not your fault you've been infected, you couldn't have known just like the person who gave it to you probably didn't even know.. but now that you know, you can learn how to be just a little safer with your sex and I'd say it's only gentlemanly of you to set aside and talk to her about such a real life issue and to express your concern for her well-being. If she's even worth half your time, she'll be willing to help protect herself without judging you.