Previous genital warts

[sandybeaches74]

If you met a new partner who you liked a lot and then found out they'd had 2 genital warts over 10 years ago - would you continue to date them?

Yes and I have

Thanks for replying @nutmegsteddytoes - do you mind me asking how you made that decision?

I'd still date them honestly most people have the virus and just don't know its been 10years its not like he had them last week

What is it you’re most worried about? My friend got genital warts after her first sexual contact so it doesn’t need to mean he sleeps around. If you’re worried about getting them, I would think condoms would protect you.

Something like 70% of the population carry a herpes simplex virus, if you are going to be weeding out people with HSV then you are going to be dramatically reducing your dating pool.

You might even have it and not know. Happened to me until I had a flare during pregnancy which was confirmed not to be a primary infection. Mine was HSV1.

@Ouchouchouchy, genital warts are not caused by the herpes virus, but the Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV).

Quite a few people carry the herpes virus, many are symptomatic and many are a symptomatic. Not as high as 70% though.

Many more still, closer to 80%, carry one or more strains of the HPV virus. Only a few cause genital warts, and only a few can lead to certain cancers.

@sandybeaches74, in all likelihood, if he has only had one outbreak, and it was years ago, his body will have cleared itself of the virus. We didn't used to think this was possible, but it would appear likely. Even if he still carries the virus, the likelihood of passing symptomatic warts onto you is very slim.

The strains which cause warts do not cause cancer.

If you did get a wart, which is very very very unlikely, treatment is fairly simple and there aren't longer term complications.

In short- don't worry. Go for it.

I work in sexual health by the way.

@sandybeaches74 I'd be more concerned about contracting the high-risk strains of HPV. If you'd had a recent smear test then you would have been informed that you have it. Otherwise it is possible to get a private test which will tell you exactly which strains you already have before dating someone new.

As 11GrumpsaGrumping has said, it's unlikely he'd still have the wart-causing HPV strain after 10 years. Unfortunately you might not know if he has the high-risk HPV strain as it usually doesn't present with symptoms. Also as far as I'm aware it's not possible for men to get tested to check which strains they have.

If you have been vaccinated against HPV it will give you protection against some strains. It is possible to still get a vaccination as an adult but effectiveness deteriorates with age hence it is only offered to adults under 45.

As for your date, I'd be very happy that he was honest about it and this information wouldn't be enough to stop dating him. However for your own health you may wish to investigate vaccination and getting tested for HPV strains to see where you're at.

In addition, it would help to work on having a strong immune system because it is possible for your body to clear an HPV infection on its own after a number of years.

Long message I know, I just wish I'd been told all this years ago.

@sandybeaches74 @PandaToTheMasses

Your post is sort of right and sort of wrong.

The strains of HPV that cause warts are NOT the same strains that place you at higher risk for certain cancers.

So him having had warts in the past means he is no more or less likely than any other potential sexual partner to pass on high risk strains.

Equally you might yourself already carry the HPV virus.

Best thing you can do is get your smear done and test yourself for HPV at the time. If negative, keep regular with your smears so any changes can be detected quickly.

Honestly two warts a decade ago is such a non issue!