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What Are The Chances Of Transmitting HPV Through Semen?
Question: I washed semen off my body in the shower, and then had a 5-10 minute shower with soap where the water ran down the drain, and then quickly wiped the shower floor with a towel (not thoroughly, more a once over). 30 minutes later (I was away from home) someone takes a bath. Assuming I have HPV (which is a big assumption), is it possible for the person who took the bath to get it?
Brief Answer:
HPV is not transmitted through semen
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Welcome to healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is acquired through intimate contact/close physical contact with an infected partner e.g during an act of sex; the virus gains entry through minor cuts or abrasions sustained during the sexual act.
Semen or other body fluids are not a source of HPV infection. Therefore, the route that you mention is not a risk factor for HPV transmission.
Regards
HPV is not transmitted through semen
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Welcome to healthcaremagic
I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is acquired through intimate contact/close physical contact with an infected partner e.g during an act of sex; the virus gains entry through minor cuts or abrasions sustained during the sexual act.
Semen or other body fluids are not a source of HPV infection. Therefore, the route that you mention is not a risk factor for HPV transmission.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you for your prompt response. Isn't there some evidence now that semen may have HPV? That is what I am concerned about. As brief history, I have only had 2 sexual partners in my life, one when I was a teenager, and the second my wife who had no sexual partners before me. The fear is that as a teenager I contracted HPV from this former partner, and it may be in my sperm/semen.
Brief Answer:
HPV is a local infection
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
HPV is a localized infection. It remains localized to the area it was first acquired e.g external genitalia. It does not spread to or through the blood stream to other body fluids like semen, saliva etc.
Therefore the route that you mention (semen) is not a risk factor for HPV transmission.
Regarding the sexual history, it is possible that you may have acquired it from your first sexual encounter if your sexual partner was already infected with HPV.
However, there is no test or procedure to detect a subclinical infection in males (unlike in females where a Pap Test can be used to detect viral DNA) unless and until males develop visible genital warts, which confirms the infection.
Do you ever have a history of visible genital warts?
Regards
HPV is a local infection
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
HPV is a localized infection. It remains localized to the area it was first acquired e.g external genitalia. It does not spread to or through the blood stream to other body fluids like semen, saliva etc.
Therefore the route that you mention (semen) is not a risk factor for HPV transmission.
Regarding the sexual history, it is possible that you may have acquired it from your first sexual encounter if your sexual partner was already infected with HPV.
However, there is no test or procedure to detect a subclinical infection in males (unlike in females where a Pap Test can be used to detect viral DNA) unless and until males develop visible genital warts, which confirms the infection.
Do you ever have a history of visible genital warts?
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
No history of genital warts.
Brief Answer:
You need not worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for clarifying. Most of the times body takes care of the HPV infection through its own immune system; so even if you acquired the infection during teenage (which is just a possibility since you never developed visible warts), it is highly unlikely that you still have it after so many years.
Moreover, semen would never transmit HPV infection. Therefore, you can just forget about this particular incident.
In future you can write directly to me for Skin and STD related queries:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-kakkar-s/66939
Regards
You need not worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for clarifying. Most of the times body takes care of the HPV infection through its own immune system; so even if you acquired the infection during teenage (which is just a possibility since you never developed visible warts), it is highly unlikely that you still have it after so many years.
Moreover, semen would never transmit HPV infection. Therefore, you can just forget about this particular incident.
In future you can write directly to me for Skin and STD related queries:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-kakkar-s/66939
Regards
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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