some questions about HPV

[wynken.livejournal.com]

I have some a ton of questions about HPV that i thought some of you might be able to answer for me. It would be greatly apreciated!

(btw thanks so much for all the comments on my last post!!!)

1. Can a man be tested for HPV if it is not a wart causing form of HPV? Can they test for it through blood work or something?

2. If a person infected with the type of HPV that does not give warts gives HPV to a partner could it somehow transform into the type that gives warts?

3. Can you get it through oral sex?

4. If 2 partners (male and female) both have HPV (the same strand) but the woman has it vaginally can she get it in her anus if they have anal sex? or should anal sex be avoided completely?

5. How effective are condoms with this type of STD? i hear they don't provide much protection.

6. if a man and a woman are both infected with the same strand of HPV is it ok for them to have unprotected sex?

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i'm sure i will think of a million more. but i guess that will do for now.

i only ask these questions here becaus i can't find the answers in any other place that i look.

THANKS! you ladies rock!

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Can a man be tested for HPV if it is not a wart causing form of HPV? Can they test for it through blood work or something? I don't know about this, but I'd like to find out. I'll try to remember to ask my doctor at this Friday's appointment.

If a person infected with the type of HPV that does not give warts gives HPV to a partner could it somehow transform into the type that gives warts? HPV causes warts. It's what it does. Do you mean the cancer-causing form?

Can you get it through oral sex? Yes, but it's uncommon.

If 2 partners (male and female) both have HPV (the same strand) but the woman has it vaginally can she get it in her anus if they have anal sex? or should anal sex be avoided completely? If he is carrying it on his penis from her vagina, he can transfer it to her anus, though this is uncommon. The same is true for herpes and yeast infections, too. It's a good idea to change condoms between one orifice and the other. That said, her vulva is close enough to her anus that she might be putting the germs there even by wiping. I've never gotten anal warts.

How effective are condoms with this type of STD? They're probably reasonably effective when a woman's warts or the virus are deep inside her, but there's no real assurance, most of the time, that all of the germs are deep inside. My warts are on my vulva, not in my vagina, so the only way to cover them up nearly effective is to use what used to be called a "Reality" condom. Now they're just calling it the "Female Condom" (how boring), and there's more information at http://www.femalehealth.com/. These are really expensive, but other than that, I like them a lot. I like them a little more than latex condoms for the penis.

if a man and a woman are both infected with the same strand of HPV is it ok for them to have unprotected sex? It's very likely, if they've been having unprotected sex in the past, that both carry the same strain. That said, they might not be, and condoms and vulva barriers will provide some protection, but not entire protection. And then there are other things that barriers are good for, such as protecting against chlamydia, HIV, pregnancy, and gonorrhea. If you're going to totally accept a fluid bond, it's safe to say that with frequent sex, HPV will get past the barrier eventually. The question is just how risky you want to be, and how big a deal HPV is to you, ultimately. My primary partner and I have had a fluid bond for several years. We've been using condoms for pregnancy prevention. Recently we discussed whether I should change birth control methods (no method really works for me as well as the condom, but I am not fond of them). We came to the conclusion that condoms do work okay for both of us, and that even though he's probably been exposed to HPV many times, if we continue to use condoms for pregnancy protection, they might continue to protect him, to some small degree, from my HPV. They don't provide much protection (again, it's on my labia) but some is better than none, and it's one of a few reasons to stick with condoms.

[84.livejournal.com]

Men can be tested for HPV, regardless of the strand, through what is referred to as an anal pap smear. However, it's not tested as a routine pap smear but rather, an "anal cytology" exam, or procedure. Unfortunately, insurance often doesn't cover those tests.

This article (http://www.gayhealth.com/templates/101965427754912761412500002/common/condition.html?record=12) explains a lot, if you haven't already read it, that is.

[enigmae.livejournal.com]

1. I was told and have read in a number of places that there's no definitive HPV test for men, but perhaps I'm wrong

2. The above poster said HPV causes warts. My understanding has been that not all strains of it cause warts however, and in some people even the strains that cause warts won't cause them.

3. You can get it through oral sex.

4. Even if you have HPV vaginally you can get it anally regardless of whether you have oral sex or not. Anal sex might increase the spread of warts though if you or your partner have them.

5. OK, here's the deal. I strongly believe condoms are not as effective against STD's as we hav been led to believe. Though obviously a condom is a million times better than no protection, what I've been reading has led me to the conclusion that a number of STD's are not terribly difficult to transmittable even with a condom. I've had five partners in the three years since I became sexually active, and condoms were used with every single one, every time. I ended up with two STD's (though luckily nothing too serious).

6. I don't know why it wouldn't be ok for unprotected sex to occur between two people with the same strain of HPV, as long as there's no concern about other STD's