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Question:
Five months ago I was diagnosed with HPV and carcinoma in situ, and some small external genital warts. I've been with my boyfriend for ten months now and we have had five months of unprotected sex when I found out about my condition. After biopsy and homeophatics treatment my Pap Smear in January turned out to be O.K. and no HPV, cervical dysplasia or CIS were found. My boyfriend also went to see a doctor (some test with microscope similar to colposcopy, but for men) and he had no genital warts, but he didn't run tests for HPV. I wonder if he should see a doctor to find out if he has HPV? I understand that there is no certain way of finding out if he has HPV, but my doctor still wants him to run this tests. He also advised us to use condoms and we've been using them. My boyfriend doesn't like condoms, although he's aware of the risk. I also don't understand why do we have to use them now, considering the fact that we didn't use them for the first five months of our relationship and it's likely that I had HPV for all that time. So do we have to use condoms considering that he was already exposed to the same type of HPV that I have and that he's probably immune to it? Can I still carry a virus in the warts in my skin, knowing the fact that I developed immunity to the virus (that's probably the explanation why my last Pap Smear showed no HPV or CIS)? The problem is that only one doctor (I visited six of them) doing colposcopy told me that these bumps were actually genital warts, and others told me nothing or didn't see them at all. I would really like to have normal sex life after all this torture, but it seems like this will never end. It's hard to explain all that to my boyfriend. He doesn't understand what's the problem, because he doesn't have any warts, and my Pap Smear showed that my condition has improved. Will we ever be able to have sex without condoms? I'm worried about him and I'm concerned that my condition doesn't get any worse.
I don't have any children, but I would like to have them sometimes.
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Answer:
by Yvonne Fulbright: ()
There's a lot going on here, so I hope I hit everything you've shared.
First, don't beat yourself up about potentially having exposed your boyfriend to HPV. He took that chance when he decided to have unprotected sex with you. It was his call - not your fault.
Based on the time frame you gave me, it sounds like he may have very well been the one infecting you, despite the fact that his own coloscopy didn't detect HPV. A person can carry HPV, never display symptoms, and still be contagious. You're correct in that there is no absolute test in detecting HPV in males who do not show signs of infection. Your boyfriend should, however, ask a physician to perform an acetic acid test, if one hasn't been performed already, as another way to detect HPV.
A couple of times you mention that you are now immune to HPV. If you were diagnosed with HPV and have had an outbreak of genital warts, that does not mean that you are immune to the disease. You can still have outbreaks. Likewise, even though you have not yet developed CIS or cervical dysplasia, you may in the future. Therefore, it's important that you continue to have regular pap smears to detect either condition.
With regard to the using condoms issue... Your doctor was wise in recommending using condoms with your partner. If he isn't infected with HPV, a condom decreases his chances of becoming infected, especially when you have an outbreak. Refraining from sexual intercourse during an outbreak is an even better way of making sure your partner doesn't become infected.
If your boyfriend isn't infected with HPV right now, that does not necessarily mean that he's immune. He just hasn't been infected - yet. If he doesn't want to wear a condom, then it is once again his own choice to put himself at risk.
As far as having children one day, having an HPV infection will not prevent you from doing so. Many couples are in the same boat as you and your partner - dealing with a sexually transmitted infection, but longing for children one day. If artificial means of becoming pregnant are not the way you want to go, then trying to conceive would best be pursued after you have not had an outbreak for several months. An OBGYN physician would be the best person to talk to when you get to this point in your relationship.
Thank you for visiting the Sexual Health Network.
Yvonne K. Fulbright, MS.Ed.Reviewed by: Patricia Fawver Ph.D. in Sexology
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