Question about HPV - Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Message Board

bluegill · 04-21-2009, 11:08 AM

So I have not been told I have HPV, however, my ex cheated on me numerous times (I found this out after the relationship ended) so I was sort of concerned I could have any form of STD. I got tested for everything and all came back negative, however there was no test for HPV in men.

I'm now with a new partner and I could'nt be happier. She told me she had the vaccine for HPV (Gardasil) so we was happy with having sex with one another. But she just found out the vaccine is not yet complete. She has only had 2 out of 3 shots (The doctor said it was complete when she went for the 2nd).

So my concern is, we started to have sex after she had her 2nd injection, does this mean even if I did have HPV, then she has it too? (We dont have unprotected but the condoms has ripped two times now) is it not effective at all without all 3 shots?

Thanks in Advance!

Drafly · 04-21-2009, 12:27 PM

First off, it's nice to see a guy so concerned so kudos to you!

This is a difficult question. After the first shot, the bodies immune system will begin to develop antibodies against the viruses. Since intercourse is not the only means of transmission (skin to skin contact not just intercourse, this includes oral sex, and HPV can still be transmitted even with the use of condoms), there may be a chance she has been exposed to HPV but then that's IF you even have it.

I wouldn't stress too much about this. She's doing the right thing getting the vaccine, and you're both doing the right thing still using condoms which will reduce the skin to skin contact and hence somewhat reduce possibility of transmission.

The only real suggestion I can make, is that she make an appointment in about 3 months for a Pap and HPV test. Typically it takes 3 months for there to be symptoms if they're even noticed. More than likely the Pap will be negative since HPV wouldn't cause dysplasia in 3 months time but she may come up positive for HPV so she needs to tell her doc she wants the HPV test run even if the Pap comes back negative. Sometimes the doc will only have the lab run the test if the Pap is positive so she needs to be clear about this with the doc in advance.

Hopefully neither of you will have any reason for concern going forward.

By the way, there are over 30 types of high risk HPV and the vaccine only covers 2 high risk and 2 low risk so if you were exposed to a different strain of HPV than the vaccine covers, this could be transmitted to your new partner regardless of whether she has had the vaccine or not.