HPV question - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

techstep · 08-23-2008, 10:14 AM

I'm a male age 27 who got HPV from my current girlfriend. We have been together for over a year and a half. She had it before her and i were together. After a short while of unprotected sex say...4-5 months, I began showing signs..warts..ect.

She has never shown signs and her cells are normal according to her doctor but her tests are positive for the virus. My warts are reoccurring. I use herbal medicines to remove and control them, but they always come back. They don't spread though, they stay in one place, and I haven't had any new warts since these popped up.

We have recently become worried that since my warts are active, could I give it to her and make her show signs of it? Her last pap was about a year ago and everything looked fine, also at that time I was with warts and the virus was active on me. We are assuming its the same strain as I had never shown signs of it before sleeping with her.

Is there a possibility of a ping-pong affect here? I've read it can occur but I've had warts for over a year now and she hasn't gotten any. I understand females may never show signs but If I'm actively showing, and I giving it back to her, shouldn't she show? Could i re-infect her and make her cells abnormal? I've even read that condoms are pretty much useless against HPV because they don't cover all of the genital skin. HELP! hehe Thanks in advance..

J from NH

Pickle Eyes · 08-23-2008, 10:29 AM

Hi techstep (J from NH)

From what I understand there is no ping-pong effect with any of the HPVs.

There are over 100 strains of HPV, more than 20 of those affect the genitals (including mouth/throat, anus, penis). Those are divided between high risk and low risk. Low risk HPV cause warts. High risk HPV, if undetected and/or untreated, can lead to cancer.

It is important to know which type of HPV she has.

Some people are able to fight HPV and have no adverse effects. Others can't. That includes high and low risk. It is possible your girlfriend is able to fight off the low risk HPV which causes your warts.

As far as her giving you HPV, that is possible. However, if anyone has had sexual contact with more than one person in their lifetime, then it is likely he/she has been exposed to at least one strain of HPV. Unless she is your first sexual contact there is no real way to know who gave it to whom.

I hope that helps.