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Am I required to disclose this information before having sex?

7,598 277 March 29, 2007 at 05:33 AM in Question
My girlfriend was informed by her gynocologist that she has the human papillomavirus, or HPV. It's impossible to tell who had it first, but I'm most likely a carrier now as well. For those of you who don't know, HPV is a virus that's said to be a prerequisite for cervical cancer in women. Men can carry the virus, but it's nearly harmless for them.

Some HPV facts from wikipedia:
Quote :
HPV is the most common sexual transmitted infection in the United States. In the United States approximately 20-million people are currently infected with HPV about 6.2 million Americans will get infected with genital HPV this year.

24.5% prevalence of HPV among females 14 to 19 years old
44.8% prevalence of HPV among females 20 to 24 years old
27.4% prevalence of HPV among females 25 to 29 years old
27.5% prevalence of HPV among females 30 to 39 years old
25.2% prevalence of HPV among females 40 to 49 years old
19.6% prevalence of HPV among females 50 to 59 years old

In the absence of Pap testing or treatment, about 1% of women with genital HPV infections will eventually go on to develop cervical cancer.

Women who have Pap testing or other cervical cancer screenings on a regular basis dramatically decrease their chances of developing cervical cancer.

A 2006 study of 82 college students suggests that condoms can be up to 70% effective for preventing genital HPV infection if used for every sexual encounter.
Here's my question. Am I required to disclose this information before having relations with another woman? I have a feeling that everyone's kneejerk reaction will be "yes", but please consider the following. There's a huge chance that the woman already has the virus, and if she doesn't already she'll probably get it in the future*. With a condom, she probably won't get it from me anyway. With pap testing, there's a very very low risk of cancer. And quite frankly, I feel that she won't know all the facts and will think it's a bigger deal than it actually is.

Thoughts?







*Genital HPV infection is very common, with estimates suggesting that more than 50% of women will become infected with one or more of the sexually transmitted HPV types at some point during adulthood.[7]

The American Social Health Association projections in 2006 were yet more pessimistic, predicting that about 75% of the reproductive population will have been infected with genital HPV infection in their lifetime.
Would YOU disclose that you're an HPV carrier? (please read the wiki facts first)
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Joined Mar 2006
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~Kimber~
03-29-2007 at 05:49 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:49 AM.
Excellent information lippy_grl1, thank you. It looks like you did some great research.
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AggieMom
03-29-2007 at 05:49 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:49 AM.
Quote from ~Kimber~ :
Absolutely, Positively, Yes. You could potentially be responsible for a woman getting cervical cancer and dying.
Iagree
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thegoalie
03-29-2007 at 05:49 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:49 AM.
Quote from lippy_grl1 :
there are multipl strains of HPV some cause warts some cause cervical cancer...I did a class project on HPV for my human desises class...HPV is spread from skin to skin contact...very transmittible. Most infections will clear them selves up without the patient even knowing they have been infected. Not all strains cause cancer but all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
That's an excellent point. Some HPV strains are more harmful than others. I just learned that from reading WIKI, and I plan to ask my gf if she has any paperwork from the gyno that I can review and find out more information. Or even call the gyno myself.
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scorpioguy
03-29-2007 at 05:50 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:50 AM.
Quote from Ram|bunc|tious :
... don't people go to jail for having sex knowing they have HIV without telling their partners? Similar consequences to women ...
are you charactersing one sex as being more likely to have a particular disease? i think both women and men are serious violators... men and women cant be trusted these days.

as to the OPs question...yes you should inform them regardless of the nature and severity of the STD.
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Last edited by scorpioguy March 29, 2007 at 05:52 AM.
Joined Jan 2005
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heavylee
03-29-2007 at 05:50 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:50 AM.
OP, if a woman carried a disease that was harmless to her, but potentially fatal to you (let's say she was a carrier of something that could lead to prostate cancer and could sexually transmit it to you - if medically possible), would you want her to tell you?
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Caydensmom
03-29-2007 at 05:50 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:50 AM.
Put the shoe on the other foot. If it were you and the person you were dating had some kind of STD or contagious disease they could possibly transfer to you, would you want to know? nod
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~Kimber~
03-29-2007 at 05:51 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:51 AM.
Quote from thegoalie :
That's an excellent point. Some HPV strains are more harmful than others. I just learned that from reading WIKI, and I plan to ask my gf if she has any paperwork from the gyno that I can review and find out more information. Or even call the gyno myself.
So you would be ok with giving certain strains of HPV to women? It's ok for them to get vaginal warts as long as they don't get cancer?
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Joined Nov 2003
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thegoalie
03-29-2007 at 05:52 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:52 AM.
Quote from ~Kimber~ :
A condom does not protect 100% against the transmission of the disease. This a potentially deadly STD and it his duty and obligation to inform any and all sexual partners beforehand.
I have a feeling that all the people who are screaming "yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" have no idea if they have the virus, and haven't given a second thought to finding out and informing their partners as much.
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lippy_grl1
03-29-2007 at 05:53 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:53 AM.
Quote from ~Kimber~ :
Excellent information lippy_grl1, thank you. It looks like you did some great research.

Thanks..I did it in 2005 since then the vaccine has come out, as has awareness of HPV
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Schooby
03-29-2007 at 05:53 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:53 AM.
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes! This is not a disease to be taken lightly!

Good lord!

Dysplasia is not cancer but it is a tissue change that is seen before malignancy develops ...as Lippy_grl1 has pointed out. And the treatment for that is a partial vaginectomy and chemotherapy cream. I've known someone who went through that.


Don't be selfish out there guys...and women too. Tell your partner, always wear a condom. And if you ever get in a relationship that you think "is the one" make sure they understand the risks before having unprotected sex.
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Saxidani
03-29-2007 at 05:54 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:54 AM.
You should not withold this information from her. By doing so you are removing her right to choose for herself if intercourse with you is a risk she wishes to take.

HPV is very serious, and should not be taken lightly.
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Original Poster
thegoalie
03-29-2007 at 05:54 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:54 AM.
Quote from ~Kimber~ :
So you would be ok with giving certain strains of HPV to women? It's ok for them to get vaginal warts as long as they don't get cancer?
I know that it's not the wart variety, because I don't show any symptoms.

Are you married? If not, am I to assume that you inform your partners that you carry the virus if you do? Do you even KNOW if you do?
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lippy_grl1
03-29-2007 at 05:54 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:54 AM.
Quote from thegoalie :
That's an excellent point. Some HPV strains are more harmful than others. I just learned that from reading WIKI, and I plan to ask my gf if she has any paperwork from the gyno that I can review and find out more information. Or even call the gyno myself.

they may do DNA testing to see what strain she has.
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lippy_grl1
03-29-2007 at 05:58 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:58 AM.
Quote from thegoalie :
I have a feeling that all the people who are screaming "yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" have no idea if they have the virus, and haven't given a second thought to finding out and informing their partners as much.
women get paps every year (or they should) and most OB/GYNS now use the Thin-Prep Pap Test which screens for HPV...so they most likely do know. I think the people screaming yes would say the same thing to a woman if she were asking the question.
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Ram|bunc|tious
03-29-2007 at 05:59 AM.
03-29-2007 at 05:59 AM.
Bet you a $1 that if the question were phrased differently, that the results of the poll would be very different. ie "If you're at a party, feeling pretty good, just met someone and there's a good chance you'll hook up later ... do you tell them?" Add alcohol/rec stuff to the mix then its really skewed.
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