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Forum Thread
Am I required to disclose this information before having sex?
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:
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.
Some HPV facts from wikipedia:
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Quote
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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. |
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.
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Remember that with pap screenings, acquiring cancer is "significantly" less than 1%. They're still more likely to develop other types of cancers, such as breast or lung (if they smoke). Further, some studies show that 85% of people will be exposed to HPV in their lifetime.
Riding in a car on the highway is statistically far more dangerous than HPV. Are your friends devistated everytime they find out they have to take a roadtrip?
You say that with pap screenings, it's highly unlikely for anyone to develop cancer. Do you realize though, that means that if a form of HPV is found and it's thought that it could develop into cancer, that it requires *treatment* (usually invasive, at that), in order for it not to develop into cancer? So just because you might give it to someone, and as long as they go for their pap to be checked, doesn't mean that they won't have problems, even though it may not be cancer. Who wants to think, "Well, who cares what I have to go through to prevent the cancer from coming as long as it doesn't?" Yes, cancer is the worst case scenario, but it doesn't make the other alternatives any more pleasant. Many treatments can become painful, costly, and time-consuming.
The chances that a woman will have sex with me and end up dying from cervical cancer from ME are next to nill. There's a far greater chance that I'll kill a woman by crashing my car on the highway, but everyone still drives, right? Because driving is also a risky behavior, and you accept the risks.
Further, I understand that any woman I'm with might have an STD and may or may not be aware of it. But I'm not hiding under a rock.
That said, I know the difference between right and wrong. I know that the right thing to do is tell*. But I'm far from the "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or you'll go to hell!" crowd.
*Once I find out more information. Specifically, if I even have the virus! We're all assuming it's permanent which might be an incorrect assumption.
To sum it up, I think almost everyone woman would want to know that there's a chance they could contract a disease, no matter how fatal it could be. And now that you know there's the chance you could give something to a woman, it's your responsibility to let her know and make her own decisions.
p.s. no personal reference of any kind..just a funny.
You make rash decisions and you get yourself into trouble - if not with an STD, then in some other way.
You make rash decisions and you get yourself into trouble - if not with an STD, then in some other way.
You make rash decisions and you get yourself into trouble - if not with an STD, then in some other way.
There is also that cancer you can get that only lasts nine month, but changes your life forever.
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There is a chance the girl would already have it, but yes, you should disclose this information. If you don't, you will very likely pass it on to her. What happens then?
Within the next year or two she'll have an abnormal pap. Once the infection shows up on her next pap smear the girl will have to get a colposcopy to determine what kind it is. A colposcopy is where they biopsy the cervix - yes, they cut out several small chunks of her cervix for testing. This does not feel pleasant, like pinching at your bellybutton from the inside.
After running tests they may have to have her come back for a leep procedure.
"LEEP uses a thin wire loop electrode which is attached to an electrosurgical generator. The generator transmits a painless electrical current that quickly cuts away the affected cervical tissue in the immediate area of the loop wire. This causes the abnormal cells to rapidly heat and burst, and separates the tissue as the loop wire moves through the cervix." http://womenshealth.ab
Painless my ass. They use a thin electrified wire to scrape at the girl's cervix and burn off the dysplasia. You feel like you're going to throw up, and during the procedure there is a burning smell and possibly some smoke coming from the vagina.
Do you seriously think you could knowingly expose someone to this and not even tell them??
And why are you starting a thread called "Am I required to disclose this information before having sex?" (about whether you should tell other girls you want to have sex with that you in all probability carry this disease) when you currenty have a girlfriend?
Let's say you have A variety, which is the less dangerous version and your new potential partner has B variety, which is more dangerous. Do you go forward?
"LEEP uses a thin wire loop electrode which is attached to an electrosurgical generator. The generator transmits a painless electrical current that quickly cuts away the affected cervical tissue in the immediate area of the loop wire. This causes the abnormal cells to rapidly heat and burst, and separates the tissue as the loop wire moves through the cervix." http://womenshealth.ab
Painless my ass. They use a thin electrified wire to scrape at the girl's cervix and burn off the dysplasia. You feel like you're going to throw up, and during the procedure there is a burning smell and possibly some smoke coming from the vagina.
Let's say you have A variety, which is the less dangerous version and your new potential partner has B variety, which is more dangerous. Do you go forward?
Let's say you have A variety, which is the less dangerous version and your new potential partner has B variety, which is more dangerous. Do you go forward?
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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?