05-22-2010, 10:36 PM
Condoms do not prevent the transmission of the virus. They do provide about 70% protection. Most visible external lesions are of low risk HPV types however some people with low risk HPV types also carry a co-infection with other HPV types. Specific HPV test is not usually done. We do not know the HPV type or types we carry.
HPV screening is not included in any STD testing.
You cannot guarantee that a new sex partner will never share your HPV infection. The virus does go into a low viral in time where it is less or may not be contagious?but the virus can go from a latent state to an expressed state. This usually occurs if your immune system weakens for some reason.
The last 4 men you sex with did not show the visible signs of the virus?but they could have acquired the virus. Most men and women with HPV never show any signs of genital warts or abnormal cell changes of the cervix. Any of these partners could have shared other HPV types with you. There is no HPV test for the male.
The only approved HPV test is a screening of the cervix. There is no HPV test for an allover status of the virus.
A Pap test looks for abnormal cell changes of the cervix only. An HPV test is done if the sampling of the cervix sees abnormal cell changes. Sometimes an HPV test is not done on the gal under 30 due to how common the virus is. You can carry HPV and never show abnormal cell changes or it can take years before abnormal cell changes develop. You can have a negative Pap and carry the virus. You should begin Pap screening at age 21.
The two HPV vaccines prevent HPV types before exposure the vaccines can?t treat or prevent HPV types you already have.
At this time there is no cure for the virus. Treatments remove the signs of the virus such as a wart or the abnormal cell changes the virus often causes.
If your current boyfriend has engaged in sex with anyone he has probably already acquired an HPV type. It is currently impossible to tell if anyone is completely HPV free.
It is good that you explained your past history with your current boyfriend?many men and women do freak out when they are told that a potential sex partners carries the virus?this is usually because they do not understand the virus and how contagious and prevalent it is.
The most common time interval from exposure to HPV to development of genital warts is 4 weeks to 8 months. However, HPV can remain latent in some people for years or decades before developing warts or cervical disease, so it is usually not possible to determine exactly when, or from whom, an individual contracted the virus.
The inability to be 100% sure that an individual with a history of an HPV infection is no longer contagious should encourage honesty whenever a new relationship begins. This should be balanced with the fact that most people are exposed to this virus during their life, and that, for most, this virus does not usually cause great harm.
http://www.asccp.org/hpv_history.shtml
How do Men get HPV?
HPV is passed on through genital contact?most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex. Since HPV usually causes no symptoms, most men and women can get HPV?and pass it on?without realizing it. People can have HPV even if years have passed since they had sex. Even men with only one lifetime sex partner can get HPV.
Is there a test for HPV in men?
Currently, there is no test to find HPV in men. The only approved HPV tests on the market are not useful for screening for HPV-related cancers or genital warts in men.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-and-men.htm
Treating genital warts will not necessarily lower your risk of passing HPV to a sex partner. You can still pass the virus on to sex partners, even after the warts are treated. It is not known how long a person remains contagious after warts are treated.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/common-clinicians/InsertGW.pdf
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