Is It Necessary to Tell Your Partner You Have HPV?

Many experts tell that you don’t need to reveal your HPV status to your partner. The reason given is that HPV is so incredibly common. It affects 80 percent of sexually active people. In other words, anyone who has had sex can have HPV at some point in their lives. Some experts even say that telling your partner should depend on your own situation. You should determine whether telling is worth it and when to speak out. However, some doctors advise patients to inform their partners if they have HPV. Keep on reading their explanation here.

5 reasons why it’s necessary to tell your partner you have HPV

1. Some types of HPV can be very dangerous for you and your partners.

There are more than 150 different types of HPV. Most of them are harmless, but some can cause warts and HPV-related cancers. For example,

• HPV types 6 and 11 can cause warts to appear on the genital and anal area.
• HPV types 16 and 18 can progress into HPV related cancers, such as cervical cancers.

So if you have HPV and spread the virus to your partner, he or she can also get warts and cancers.

Related: 7 Myths and Facts about HPV

2. Safe sex still has chances of passing HPV to your partner.

HPV is highly contagious. It can be transmitted through skin-to-skin and sexual contact. But even when you use condoms, you still cannot prevent HPV fully. Condoms do not provide 100 percent of protection against HPV. Depending on HPV types, you should abstain from sex to stop the spread to your partner. HPV will not cause transmission if the virus is cleared from the immune system. So, practice safe sex and get vaccine to ensure that you don’t pass HPV to your partner.

3. Currently, there is no test for HPV for your male partner.

To find out if a woman has HPV, a Pap smear or cervical screening can help. But for men, there is no test to detect the virus. That means if you have HPV and spread it to a man, there will be no way to test him for the virus. This could put him at risk for HPV-related cancers. So, telling your partner you have HPV can give him the chance to receive early treatment. This also helps him prevent the risks of passing HPV to his future partners.

Related: HPV Tests for Women and Men

4. Telling your partner that you have HPV, is really not a big deal.

HPV is super common and 80 percent of sexually active adults have it. Getting HPV doesn’t mean you did something wrong and embarrassing. So, telling your partner you have HPV is not a big deal. It’s just like telling someone that you’ve just got a common disease.

5. Telling your doctor can help you to deal with HPV better.

Although HPV is incurable, there are ways to reduce symptoms and prevent recurrences. You can consult your doctor about appropriate treatment. To treat HPV warts, the doctor may recommend surgical methods. But usually, HPV warts are treated with antiviral creams, like VidaroX. If you’re diagnosed with HPV types that cause cancer, you should see a doctor and follow his treatment.

Related: Top 5 Common Drugs for HPV

6 tips on how to tell your partner you have HPV

1. Talk about your HPV before you engage in sex intercourse.

As mentioned, HPV can be contagious. Any kind of sex, including oral, vaginal and anal sex can cause the virus to spread. So, telling your partner before having sex can help avoid passing HPV to him or her.

2. Choose a quiet place.

Picking the right time and circumstance can help improve your conversation. Experts advise choosing a quiet place where the two both can feel safe and romantic.

3. Start the conversation gently.

Don’t start your conversation in a serious way. Try to be honest, gentle and intimate to your partner. Make him or her feel relaxed and trust you.

4. Choose your words wisely.

Choosing your words wisely can dispel your partner’s worries. For example, do not describe HPV as a horrible and incurable disease. Instead, you can say HPV is controllable and manageable with many treatment options. To do this, you also need to be aware of HPV and the approach to HPV treatment.

5. Keep calm and answer all your partner’s questions.

Stay calm and positive. Try to give your partner as much as information about HPV. Make him or her understand more about your condition.

6. Give your partner time to think.

After revealing your HPV status, give your partner time to think. If he or she does love you, they will accept and stay with you, no matter who you’re.

Related: Sex and HPV

Everyone has the right to know what’s going to happen to them when they sleep with you. So if you have HPV, be honest to talk to them. This not only helps you get a real relationship but also protects others against a disease. If you want to get more solutions on “how to tell your partner you have HPV”, see your doctor for help.