How to Deal with HPV in the Family?

Yes, it is possible that you can transmit HPV to your family. However, the chances are low.

If you have been diagnosed with HPV, you probably wonder how to protect your family from getting infected. Do you need to take biosecurity measures at home? Well, no, it’s not as complicated as it may seem.

First of all, it is important to clarify that the precautions you need to take with your family if you have HPV are minimal. It is not necessary to significantly change habits at home to protect your family.

This is because HPV is a virus that is primarily transmitted through sexual contact. And, although it can also be transmitted through other means (such as saliva or contact with an open wound on a contaminated object), the rate is so low that we can consider it possible but very unlikely.

For this reason, the only family member you need to change dynamics with is your partner.

In that case, if your partner does not have the virus, to avoid transmission, you should stop having sex (including vaginal, anal, and oral) and/or use condoms. If your partner already has the virus like you, go to this article where we explain if you can or cannot have sex.

Índice

1 Basic recommendations to protect your family if you have HPV
2 Can I use the same bathroom as my family if I have HPV?
3 You can continue your family life as usual
4 What do I do if my partner has HPV?
5 An HPV diagnosis doesn’t mean your partner cheated on you
6 Is there a treatment or cure for HPV?
7 Can HPV be transmitted during breastfeeding?
8 Lastly… what should you do if you have HPV?

Basic recommendations to protect your family if you have HPV

Although there is not much to change, there are some precautionary measures you could take (if you haven’t already applied them at home) to prevent not only the spread of HPV but also any other pathogens.

Each family member should have their own personal hygiene products: This includes soap, razor, bath towel, etc.
Preferably, you should not share eating utensils (glasses, spoons, forks): It is not likely to transmit HPV this way; however, it is a general recommendation to prevent the spread of any virus or disease.
If there are warts, avoid direct contact with them: Warts usually appear in the genital area, so there is no problem avoiding contact. But if they appear in other parts of the body, it is best to prevent other people from having direct contact with them.

Can I use the same bathroom as my family if I have HPV?

In some families, it is common to have shared bathrooms. If this is your case, you should know that there is nothing to worry about; you can continue sharing a bathroom with others even if you have HPV.

In general, although the virus could reach objects (such as the toilet), this is not an environment where it can survive for long. It would be a matter of seconds before it becomes completely unviable. For this reason, it is highly unlikely to contract any viral STI in a bathroom.

You can continue your family life as usual

Aside from the recommendations mentioned above, everything at home can remain absolutely the same.

You can continue to kiss and hug your family without worry. You can keep preparing their favorite meals. And, in general, there aren’t many more precautions that you need to take with them.

These were some tips to help you know how to deal with HPV. However, there is much more you need to do if you really want to get rid of HPV and warts forever.

What you need to do is GET RID OF THE ROOT of the problem.

For that reason, I recommend you to look into Dr. Kirkland's story and how he was able to cure HPV and get rid of warts for good.

Click here to see what he did

What do I do if my partner has HPV?

If your partner has been diagnosed with HPV, it’s likely that you may have contracted the virus as well.

The first thing you should do is see your gynecologist or urologist who will conduct the necessary tests to determine if you have the virus or not.

If you don’t have it, you should immediately start protective measures to prevent getting infected. Avoid having unprotected sexual intercourse with your partner.

An HPV diagnosis doesn’t mean your partner cheated on you

If the first thing that comes to your mind upon learning that your partner has HPV is that they’ve cheated on you, be careful! You could be mistaken and make a serious mistake.

Given the nature and course of the disease, it’s very hard to pinpoint the exact time of infection or who infected you.

Symptoms of HPV can take up to 10 years to appear, so before jumping to conclusions, keep this in mind.

Therefore, it’s crucial that when starting a new relationship, both you and your partner openly discuss your previous sexual partners.

If you’re under 26, you can talk to your doctor about the possibility of getting the HPV vaccine, if you haven’t already.

Is there a treatment or cure for HPV?

It’s important to clarify that there’s no cure for HPV. Treatment targets lesions caused by HPV, which can be cured. The virus might always be present.

Genital warts can be treated with topical medications like:

imiquimod,
podophyllin,
trichloroacetic acid,
and sinecatechins.

They can also be removed through:

surgery,
freezing,
or laser treatments.

All available treatments should be recommended and overseen by your doctor. It’s not advisable to self-medicate or use over-the-counter products often intended for other types of warts.

No one treatment is better than another. Your doctor will recommend the one that best matches the type of wart, its location, and the risks involved.

After treatment has eliminated the warts, they might return, so another treatment might be needed.

It’s essential to understand that the disappearance of warts doesn’t mean there’s no longer a risk of transmitting the virus.

Can HPV be transmitted during breastfeeding?

There’s no consensus on this matter. However, in most studies where HPV DNA was detected in breast milk, no signs of infection in the newborn were observed.

Cases of transmission to babies whose mothers had lesions on the nipple during breastfeeding have also not been reported.

Thus, the likelihood of transmitting the Human Papillomavirus through breast milk is almost nonexistent.

Remember that regular doctor visits, proper monitoring, and responsible sexuality are the best weapons against HPV.

Early detection of any abnormal lesion provides the highest chances for timely treatment and recovery.

Attend your appointments diligently and discuss any health changes you notice with your doctor.

Lastly… what should you do if you have HPV?