WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for November, 1998: Re: HPV Conflicting Info.

Re: HPV Conflicting Info.

From: D. Ashley Hill, M.D. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 10 Nov 1998 17:01:51 -0600 (CST)

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At Tue, 10 Nov 1998, Tracy wrote: >
>When I was diagnosed with HPV my doctor told me that it was transmitted
>sexually and no other way, she froze them, and sent me home. There was
>never anything mentioned about this virus being with me for life or that
>I could pass it on. I only found this out years later on the internet.

Viruses, including HPV, are tricky. Please see my monograph at my web site, under the heading "patient monographs" at http://home.mpinet.net/dahmd

In the meantime, although it is possible to transmit HPV by fomites (towels, etc), it is very, very unlikely. I have seen a few cases of pediatric HPV that were probably transmitted by parent to child (but not by sexual contact), or by simply being born to a parent with HPV. Again, however, it is about 20 million times more likely that HPV is transmitted *almost* exclusively by sexual contact (penis/vagina, penis/anus, penis or vagina/mouth, or possibly by fingers/genitals.

Very few things in medicine are absolute. Yes, one can get pregnant by only rubbing the penis outside the lips of the vagina even if intercourse is not completed. Yet, this is unbelievably rare. And, there are even a few cases of abdominal pregnancy after hysterectomy, yet 2 or 3 cases out of millions is about as rare as it gets. So, even though the information you received is mostly technically correct, it is probably not very valid in everyday situations. In fact, the fact that HPV is found in virgins means nothing, as they likely were infected as they were passing through their mother's vagina. And, I don't know what someone would have to do to a toilet seat in order to become infected with HPV from it, but it's a mental image I don't care to entertain!

Take care,

-- Ashley Hill David Ashley Hill, M.D. Associate Director Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency Orlando, FL http://home.mpinet.net/dahmd

The above is intended for general medical education, and is not for specific medical advice. I apologize, but I am unable to answer personal e-mail due to time constraints.

Next message: Barbara: "Hrt"
Previous message: Harriet: "Re: still will have menstral flow after hyst.and no uterus"
In reply to: Tracy: "HPV Conflicting Info."
Next in thread: Tracy: "Re: HPV Conflicting Info. Dr. Hill"
Reply: Tracy: "Re: HPV Conflicting Info. Dr. Hill"

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