I have a friend who messed around with a guy who later confessed to having HPV. Now, while there was no intercourse or even oral sex, she has concerns. And I'm not too educated on the subject, so I'm relaying her questions to AMHD in hopes that I can get her some answers before she goes to the doctor in four days.

If his semen made contact with her skin, could she have contracted it?
What are the chances that she can contract it from kissing him?

You can contract hpv through skin contact. That's how I got it before I was even sexually active. I don't know if you can get it from semen or not but you could get it from holding someone's hand. If your friend has any small bumps on her hands or anywhere she should have them checked out/removed because they could be warts associated with the virus. My doctor told me anything and everything about the virus and I was scared to death when I found out I had it but after learning everything I did I'm not scared anymore. Seriously, if you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

Also, there's a vaccine called gardasil for girls ages 9-26. I recommend it even if you have one type of hpv because it protects you from the other types. It's expensive but the virus is so common that I got the vaccine anyway.

No offense, but you didn't answer my question.

She is getting the vaccination, hence the doctor's appointment in four days.

Well I know, because I said I didn't know. I've been looking online to try to find out but my doctor had mentioned it's only contracted through skin contact, so by kissing, sure if he has a wart on his face somewhere.

If you don't have answers its best to not type something just to say that you don't have an answer.

What I was trying to tell you is that my doctor said it was only transmitted by skin contact. If there are warts visible on the skin then yes, you can get it. Kissing, yes if there are warts present

Here, you can check this out if you want.

HPV: Common Questions (http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hpv/faq.html)

It comes from skin contact, there is not need for any type of sex act.

I understand. But skin contact with a person that has it, or infected skin contact. Kissing?

If they were messing around, did she touch in the areas where this is effected

If you don't have answers its best to not type something just to say that you don't have an answer.

No need to be so rude CM. She was just trying to help.


I understand. But skin contact with a person that has it, or infected skin contact. kissing?

It can be contracted by skin to skin contact whether there is a breakout or not.

if they were messing around, did she touch in the areas where this is effected
No, that was her concern... She didn't touch him in a spot you would assume he would be infected, but you never know where there could be a contagious spot I guess. TO be honest, I'm really confused about how this works, and so is she.

There are many different types of the HPV warts virus, Gardisil protects only against the main 3. No warts need to be present in order to have the virus some types cause none. A pap smear will tell her if she has it. It is a completely different virus to that of normal skin warts. Chances are unlikely that she would get it from kissing unsure about semen contact. Genital skin contact is highly likely to pass the virus on, condoms not even being effective in protecting from HPV.