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Question:
I doubt you've heard this one before, but then, you never know.
Approximately one month ago, I noticed a small bump on my penis. Needless to say, it caught my attention, but I didn't worry too much about it because, sexually, I've lived a fairly conservative life. But after a brief visit to a urologist, I was diagnosed with Condyloma (gential warts).
The first thing I did was talk w/ my girlfriend. She has no outward symptons and had a pap smear just two weeks before in which everything came out all clear. She is now scheduled to have a more accurate test (I can't remember what it is) to see whether she has the virus.
Okay, now my question: I don't know how I got this. I may never know because I've since learned that the virus can remain dormant in a person. But, I have a theory. Tell me if this is possible or not:
I play in a rock band. Last July, we had a photo shoot. In this photo shoot, my fellow bandmates and myself had to dress up in faux-sexy clothing (boxers, silk shirts) and get into a bed together. (Incidentally, it was all schtick (in case you're wondering), we did this for a laugh.)
Anyhow, I was running late that day, and when I got there, I realized that I'd forgotten to wear "sexy" boxers. So, my friend, the photographer, let me borrow her husband's boxers. So I replaced my boxers with his boxers, did the shoot, and went home.
So anyhow, four weeks later the magic bump shows up. I go to the doctor, get the diagnosis, try to figure out where the hell this came from and then it hit me -- Could it have been her husband?
You see, I've been close friends with the photographer and her husband for years. And years ago, before they had ever met, he had contracted gential warts from a previous relationship. He later passed it along to his wife. To make sure I wasn't remembering falsely, I called him up and he confirmed it.
So, by now you've likely guessed my question, could I have contracted HPV from his boxers?
I've read reports that say it's possible to contract HPV from towels and intimate clothing, and I've read other reports that say it's only possible through direct skin-to-skin contact.
However, timing-wise, it seems to point to the boxers to me. Especially if the tests put my girlfriend in the clear (God forbid I passed this along to her).
See, I told you that you've never heard one like this before.
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Answer:
by Yvonne Fulbright: (06/26/2004)
You are correct. Genital warts can be transmitted via contact with infected towels or clothing, as well as through skin-on-skin contact or from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. So that you don't pass the virus along to your partner, it would be wise to abstain from sex during times of outbreak and to use a condom or dental dam (which can provide some, limited protection) during non-outbreak periods.
Thank you for visiting the Sexual Health Network.
Yvonne K. Fulbright, MS.Ed.Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team
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