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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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By the sounds of things ALL women should ALWAYS assume that ALL men are carriers and act accordingly ... after all, just 'cause one guy tells her, the next guy prolly won't and prolly wouldn't even know!
I only brought that up because so many were saying they know they're not HPV positive, yet, they might never even have been tested but think they were.
It's something every single female should discuss with their Gyncologist at their next appointment. Ask if the HPV test is routinely done even if you have no history of an abnormal pap. I'm sure many will be surprised at the answer they receive.
I'm not saying that people shouldn't tell or shouldn't get the vaccine.
I just think that it's kind of silly that there's all this uproar over HPV when it is not fatal or anything else, but there's nothing out there about protecting yourself against chlamydia or any other STD that may not be permanent (besides the obvious- abstaining or using a condom), but can cause lots of damage to the human body if contracted once and especially multiple times.
Of course he should tell.
Of course people should get the vaccine.
But I think that more people think, "Oh my gosh... I'm dying... I have HPV... etc. etc." when it really is more than likely a dormant strain. But that's why people SHOULD get checked out... you never know if it is or it isn't. And that's why partners SHOULD share that information.
I'm not being lenient about the major issue in this thread: telling a person.
I'm not even being lenient about the vaccine.
I'm just saying... yes, it has caused people pain (myself included) but if you just buckle down and do the right thing and get your checkups and everything else, you will find that it is not as life-altering as you think it may be. At least it hasn't been for me so far. Or my mother or my sister or anyone else I know personally who has gone through the same thing I have. My mother had cryosurgery and all of that and she is happy and thriving and has 3 children.
Now for someone like GirlRacer, I think it's terrible that it happened in the way that it did and that she may not be able to have children, but she still has a chance because she went and got checked out. But I honestly have not heard any other stories personally of someone who did do the right thing and get checked out on a regular basis developing a strain this bad that they may not be able to have children.
I guess if you look beyond the words "big deal" you'll see that I really am an advocate for telling a partner, getting the vaccine, and getting checked out on a regular basis. And I honestly don't think that's lenient at all. Just my 2 cents.
yea we can all tell that you are an advocate for telling the other person but at the same time you have blatantly made it a point to belittle the effects of having HPV...you said youve dealt with a lot more than HPV...so does that make it ok to talk of HPV lightly? so how do you rate maladies? is one more hurtful than the other? is being raped worse than breast cancer? does breast cancer lose out to say being beaten up to the point where you arent recognisable?(just examples of things that can happen)
I don't think knowing they're protected against HPV will increase girls having sex. There's still the worry of an unwanted pregnancy and other STD's to worry about. I don't feel it's an open invitiation for sex.
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yea we can all tell that you are an advocate for telling the other person but at the same time you have blatantly made it a point to belittle the effects of having HPV...you said youve dealt with a lot more than HPV...so does that make it ok to talk of HPV lightly? so how do you rate maladies? is one more hurtful than the other? is being raped worse than breast cancer? does breast cancer lose out to say being beaten up to the point where you arent recognisable?(just examples of things that can happen)
Say what you want.
I am not pulling my pants up, so there.
yea we can all tell that you are an advocate for telling the other person but at the same time you have blatantly made it a point to belittle the effects of having HPV...you said youve dealt with a lot more than HPV...so does that make it ok to talk of HPV lightly? so how do you rate maladies? is one more hurtful than the other? is being raped worse than breast cancer? does breast cancer lose out to say being beaten up to the point where you arent recognisable?(just examples of things that can happen)
I am not taking it lightly. Learn how to read.
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Say what you want.
I am not pulling my pants up, so there.