My husband had an affair, got genital warts and has most likely infected me. I have a couple questions ... why shouldnt partners that both have HPV have sex when the virus is present? Also, do the warts appear where the virus was contracted (vagina, anus, mouth)? Finally, assuming again that both partners have HPV, will the location of the warts change based on the type of sex you have in the future?

First off its nearly impossible to tell where you or he got it from. It can remain dormant for years. He or you could have had HPV since before you married in a dormant state. Its highly unlikely that you both developed warts simulataneously.

HPV doesnt work like that. Less than 10% of people infected ever develop symptoms. So there is less than a 1% chance for you to develop warts and for him to develop warts from the same strain and exposure. There is a higher chance of him developing warts and you having an abnormal pap at a later point.

Secondly it depends on the strain of HPV and your bodies response to it sometimes the stay the same, grow, spread, move or even go away on their own.

If however youre asking if you have anal sex with someone who has HPV and you also have HPV vaginally will you get warts there or vice versa.. probably not. Most women develop an immunity to HPV after exposure, and if no complications present themselves after a year are thought to be non infectous.

There are two schools of thought on whether or not people who have HPV should have sex when the warts are present. One says that it poses no further risk since you already have the virus, and the other says the more exposure the more risk for complications.

3/5/2003

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