How Is HPV Contracted?
Question: I have been exposed to HPV. Could you indicate if my understanding (following) is correct?
An infected/exposed person will not run the risk of infecting a partner by touching the partner with hands (anywhere is OK), or kissing them anywhere other than the mouth or genitalia.
An infected/exposed person does run the risk of infecting a partner by having intercourse, even with a condom, oral sex, or kissing on the mouth.
An infected/exposed person will not run the risk of infecting a partner by touching the partner with hands (anywhere is OK), or kissing them anywhere other than the mouth or genitalia.
An infected/exposed person does run the risk of infecting a partner by having intercourse, even with a condom, oral sex, or kissing on the mouth.
Brief Answer:
It is correct
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
HPV is very common STD and it is easily transmitted by any kind of sexual intercourse. Virus is located in geintals and perianal skin so for infection it is required that there is contact between these regions.
It cant be tranmsitted by kissing or touching other parts of body. but if you touch genitals of infected person and then right after it, you touch your genitals-it can be transmitted. Condom significanly reduces risk of infection,but risk is still high since hpv is located in perigenital and perianal skin,not just on penis and also it can pass from infected person to "not covered" genital and perianal area of recipient.
Regards,
It is correct
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.
HPV is very common STD and it is easily transmitted by any kind of sexual intercourse. Virus is located in geintals and perianal skin so for infection it is required that there is contact between these regions.
It cant be tranmsitted by kissing or touching other parts of body. but if you touch genitals of infected person and then right after it, you touch your genitals-it can be transmitted. Condom significanly reduces risk of infection,but risk is still high since hpv is located in perigenital and perianal skin,not just on penis and also it can pass from infected person to "not covered" genital and perianal area of recipient.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I have been exposed to HPV, the kind that presents itself in women as genital worts, so I want to confirm that this kind of strain does not cause cervical cancer.
I also have questions about several scenarios and whether they place an unexposed partner at risk of catching HPV. Is there a chance of spreading HPV if I the potentially infected person has saliva on my hands and then touches my uninfected partner's genitals? If I the potentially infected person have semen on my hand and my uninfected partner kisses my hand? If my uninfected partner touches my genitals and then touches her own?
Many thanks.
I also have questions about several scenarios and whether they place an unexposed partner at risk of catching HPV. Is there a chance of spreading HPV if I the potentially infected person has saliva on my hands and then touches my uninfected partner's genitals? If I the potentially infected person have semen on my hand and my uninfected partner kisses my hand? If my uninfected partner touches my genitals and then touches her own?
Many thanks.
Brief Answer:
hi
Detailed Answer:
HPV ypes 16 and 18 cause cervical cancer and genital warts are caused by other types, most commonly6 and 11. If women has genital warts it doesnt mean that she does not have HPV 16 or 18.
There is no virus in saliva and it cant be transmitted if there wasnt direct or indirect contact with genital area. Genital HPV can be on hands or face or lips if there was previous contact of this hand with genital warts,but genital hpv is not likely to cause infection in other parts of body since other virus types are causing it. So if you touch genital warts of infected person,infected semen or vaginal discharge,you can by your hands transmitt this virus if you touch genital area of another person soon after first contact.
hi
Detailed Answer:
HPV ypes 16 and 18 cause cervical cancer and genital warts are caused by other types, most commonly6 and 11. If women has genital warts it doesnt mean that she does not have HPV 16 or 18.
There is no virus in saliva and it cant be transmitted if there wasnt direct or indirect contact with genital area. Genital HPV can be on hands or face or lips if there was previous contact of this hand with genital warts,but genital hpv is not likely to cause infection in other parts of body since other virus types are causing it. So if you touch genital warts of infected person,infected semen or vaginal discharge,you can by your hands transmitt this virus if you touch genital area of another person soon after first contact.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you. I understand you to say that indeed the strains of HPV which cause cervical cancer are not the same ones that cause genital worts.
In response to my first question in the second paragraph of my question above, I understand you to say that the HPV virus is not carried in saliva. Am I correct in concluding that mouth to mouth kissing cannot transmit HPV? I am having trouble reconciling this with some medical opinions including an earlier conversation on this website that suggests that open mouth kissing can transmit the disease? If the saliva does not carry the virus, how is it that kissing can transmit the disease? Or can it?
Further, are you saying that if there is saliva on my (the infected party's) hands when I touch an uninfected partner's genitals, there is not a danger of transmitting the virus?
My other questions in paragraph two may not have been clear. I was not referencing contact with genital warts at the moment of sexual contact. I had had intercourse with a woman who later presented with genital warts. So I was definitely exposed to the virus, but before worts appeared. So let me recast those questions. If a male like me has been exposed to HPV with one woman in the recent past, and is interacting with a different partner who has not been exposed - is there a danger in exposing her to the virus if I the potentially infected person have semen on my hand and my uninfected partner kisses my hand? Or if my uninfected partner touches my (potentially infected) genitals and then touches her own?
It would be most helpful if you could respond to these questions each sequentially with a yes or no (and an explanation there really helps!); the earlier response required some interpretation and extrapolation on my part and I want to make sure I interpret absolutely correctly.
Many thanks.
In response to my first question in the second paragraph of my question above, I understand you to say that the HPV virus is not carried in saliva. Am I correct in concluding that mouth to mouth kissing cannot transmit HPV? I am having trouble reconciling this with some medical opinions including an earlier conversation on this website that suggests that open mouth kissing can transmit the disease? If the saliva does not carry the virus, how is it that kissing can transmit the disease? Or can it?
Further, are you saying that if there is saliva on my (the infected party's) hands when I touch an uninfected partner's genitals, there is not a danger of transmitting the virus?
My other questions in paragraph two may not have been clear. I was not referencing contact with genital warts at the moment of sexual contact. I had had intercourse with a woman who later presented with genital warts. So I was definitely exposed to the virus, but before worts appeared. So let me recast those questions. If a male like me has been exposed to HPV with one woman in the recent past, and is interacting with a different partner who has not been exposed - is there a danger in exposing her to the virus if I the potentially infected person have semen on my hand and my uninfected partner kisses my hand? Or if my uninfected partner touches my (potentially infected) genitals and then touches her own?
It would be most helpful if you could respond to these questions each sequentially with a yes or no (and an explanation there really helps!); the earlier response required some interpretation and extrapolation on my part and I want to make sure I interpret absolutely correctly.
Many thanks.
Brief Answer:
Sexual transmission is high
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back.
Kissing can transmit other types of HPV, not genital ones since these viruses has receptors only for genital are and cervix of uterus. Kissing can transmit genital hpv if someone touches or kisses infected genital area and then kisses another persons genital area.
It doesnt matter for transmission if warts occurred or not since it is contagious even before warts occur,of course risk is less comparing to scenario where warts are seen.
If you had sex with infected person then you obviously have viruses on your genitals and small amount of it in semen Virus can stay alive on dry skin for 48 hours,so if someone touches or kisses your contaminated hands within 48 hours, this person will have virus on hands or mouth and if this person then touches her own genitals, infection could occur. But practically this risk is very low for this kind of scenario.
Regards,
Sexual transmission is high
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back.
Kissing can transmit other types of HPV, not genital ones since these viruses has receptors only for genital are and cervix of uterus. Kissing can transmit genital hpv if someone touches or kisses infected genital area and then kisses another persons genital area.
It doesnt matter for transmission if warts occurred or not since it is contagious even before warts occur,of course risk is less comparing to scenario where warts are seen.
If you had sex with infected person then you obviously have viruses on your genitals and small amount of it in semen Virus can stay alive on dry skin for 48 hours,so if someone touches or kisses your contaminated hands within 48 hours, this person will have virus on hands or mouth and if this person then touches her own genitals, infection could occur. But practically this risk is very low for this kind of scenario.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you. I still struggle with your answers as they do not directly address some of the specific questions I posed. Your answers do provide general guidance but I am having trouble applying them to my questions specifically. If you could answer each question specifically, I believe I would have a better understanding.
1. You indicate that kissing cannot transmit genital HPV. Kissing, with no genital contact during kissing, will not transmit genital HPV, is this correct?
2. Person A is a male who has been exposed to HPV in the recent past and may be able to transmit it. Person B is a female who has not been exposed to HPV. If Person A has his semen on his hands, and Person B kisses that hand, could the HPV be transmitted from Person A to Person B?
3. Same two people as in (2) above: Person A is a male who has been exposed to HPV in the recent past and may be able to transmit it. Person B is a female who has not been exposed to HPV. If Person B (the uninfected woman) touches Person A's genitals and then touches her own, is there a risk of transmitting HPV from Person A to Person B?
Many thanks. Answering each question, one at a time, will help me most understand.
1. You indicate that kissing cannot transmit genital HPV. Kissing, with no genital contact during kissing, will not transmit genital HPV, is this correct?
2. Person A is a male who has been exposed to HPV in the recent past and may be able to transmit it. Person B is a female who has not been exposed to HPV. If Person A has his semen on his hands, and Person B kisses that hand, could the HPV be transmitted from Person A to Person B?
3. Same two people as in (2) above: Person A is a male who has been exposed to HPV in the recent past and may be able to transmit it. Person B is a female who has not been exposed to HPV. If Person B (the uninfected woman) touches Person A's genitals and then touches her own, is there a risk of transmitting HPV from Person A to Person B?
Many thanks. Answering each question, one at a time, will help me most understand.
Brief Answer:
hi
Detailed Answer:
Ok i will answer as short as possible.
1. Kissing practically cant transmit genital HPV. Theroretically, if person A kisses genital area of infected person B and then kisses genital area of healthy person C within 2 days, it could be tranmissed,but this is theoretical risk only.
2. No
3. yes
hi
Detailed Answer:
Ok i will answer as short as possible.
1. Kissing practically cant transmit genital HPV. Theroretically, if person A kisses genital area of infected person B and then kisses genital area of healthy person C within 2 days, it could be tranmissed,but this is theoretical risk only.
2. No
3. yes
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you.
In the case of question 1 above - I assume that oral HPV can be transmitted through kissing?
In the case of question 2 above - if HPV is not transmitted through semen, how is it transmitted?
Many thanks,
Nelson
In the case of question 1 above - I assume that oral HPV can be transmitted through kissing?
In the case of question 2 above - if HPV is not transmitted through semen, how is it transmitted?
Many thanks,
Nelson
Brief Answer:
Yes, oral HPV is transmitte by kissing
Detailed Answer:
1. Yes, oral HPV is transmitte by kissing and in most cases kissing is cause of infection of mouth,lips and facial skin.
2. Small amount of genital virus hpv is found in semen since virus is present on genital area, penis, urethrea, perianal skin. So contact with these areas is likely to transmitt disease. semen, as I said ,has small amount of viruses so risk of transmission is much smaller. ALso, if other peoples hand or lips are in contact wih semen then this person can be only the carrier. genital hpv wont cause infection on mouth,lips or hands. it can cause infection only if it comes to genital area by touhing yourself with cotaminated hands
Yes, oral HPV is transmitte by kissing
Detailed Answer:
1. Yes, oral HPV is transmitte by kissing and in most cases kissing is cause of infection of mouth,lips and facial skin.
2. Small amount of genital virus hpv is found in semen since virus is present on genital area, penis, urethrea, perianal skin. So contact with these areas is likely to transmitt disease. semen, as I said ,has small amount of viruses so risk of transmission is much smaller. ALso, if other peoples hand or lips are in contact wih semen then this person can be only the carrier. genital hpv wont cause infection on mouth,lips or hands. it can cause infection only if it comes to genital area by touhing yourself with cotaminated hands
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
If kissing does not transmit the genital HPV, then why does fellatio if the male is infected with HPV? I understand from numerous sources that fellatio can transmit HPV - and yet the receptors for genital HPV are not in the mouth. Not sure how to reconcile the two.
Also, if kissing does not transmit genital HPV, and the receptors for genital HPV are not in the mouth - can an infected male perform cunnilingus with an uninfected woman without transmitting HPV or putting the woman at risk?
Many thanks
Also, if kissing does not transmit genital HPV, and the receptors for genital HPV are not in the mouth - can an infected male perform cunnilingus with an uninfected woman without transmitting HPV or putting the woman at risk?
Many thanks
Brief Answer:
Infection should get established to get transmitted
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back.
Any infection should get established in a specific part to get transmitted by the same part. In case of contamination and absence of the receptors, the virus may die without causing any infection and hence no transmission.
Hope, I am clear.
Regards,
Infection should get established to get transmitted
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back.
Any infection should get established in a specific part to get transmitted by the same part. In case of contamination and absence of the receptors, the virus may die without causing any infection and hence no transmission.
Hope, I am clear.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you for your response. I believe I understand the principle. To confirm that I have a proper understanding of how the principle actually applies in specific situations, could you answer yes or no (with explanation of course as is helpful) about the following scenarios?
1. An infected male who performs cunnilingus on an uninfected woman does not expose her to genital HPV.
2. An uninfected woman who performs fellatio on an infected males does expose herself to genital HPV. (If yes, how can this be if the woman's receptors for genital HPV are not located in the mouth?)
Many thanks.
1. An infected male who performs cunnilingus on an uninfected woman does not expose her to genital HPV.
2. An uninfected woman who performs fellatio on an infected males does expose herself to genital HPV. (If yes, how can this be if the woman's receptors for genital HPV are not located in the mouth?)
Many thanks.
Brief Answer:
hi
Detailed Answer:
Yes,both statements are correct. there is no transmission if there is no direct contact between genital hpv and genital area
hi
Detailed Answer:
Yes,both statements are correct. there is no transmission if there is no direct contact between genital hpv and genital area
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari