Q: My partner had a positive pap smear (for HPV). We are in our late 40s/early 50s. We swing, and we’ve had sex with a lot of people, but we almost always use condoms. Should we tell our other sexual partners? If we do, how far back should we go? What are the risks of transmitting it if we have sex with other people?
A: Condoms can greatly reduce the chance of transmission, but HPV can occur on skin surfaces in the genital regions not covered by a condom. Of the more than 100 types of HPV about 30 are sexually transmitted and only two are linked to cervical cancer.
An estimated 5.5 million new HPV infections occur each year in the US, accounting for about a third of all STD transmission. It’s a very communicable STD.
Recent studies show that about 70% of infected females will clear the infection in 12 months and 90% will clear within 2 years. The incubation period for the virus is 2 to 3 months. Many or most men may carry the virus and never present with symptoms.
With all that said - telling your other sexual partners is a good idea, if for nothing else to make sure the females in the group have their regular pap smears. The cervical cancer associated with HPV is very slow to develop and regular pap smears can lead to successful early intervention. How far back to go? Theoretically in a perfectly safe world, up to two years. Practically, probably less time. One thing we do find is that it’s quite common for men and women who practice swinging or open sexual relationships to go for regular check up or STD testing.
The good news is that there is not as much of a stigma attached to this virus because it’s quite common. It’s quite likely 25 million or more folks in the US currently have HPV.
Here is a great resource with info on HPV. We use the site’s invormation while we work here at SFSI.
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