Your last smear reveals a HPV positive. Do not panic, the human papillomavirus or HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection and almost 80% of people will be infected with HPV during their lifetime. And even among women who have had only one partner, the probability of being infected with HPV is close to 50%. In most cases, the virus is even naturally eliminated by the immune system and no intervention by a healthcare professional is necessary, only monitoring.
A question then immediately comes to mind:Can I pass it on to my partner?” The answer is yes, “and it’s probably already done”, confirms Dr. Jean-Luc Mergui, obstetrician-gynecologist in Paris. But do not panic: the risk of developing lesions in men is much lower and the specialist advises not to change his habits concerning his sexual relations, even in the event of low-grade lesions, which are not treated but just monitored. “There’s no point in completely stopping your sex life.”he adds.
“HPV is an infection intimately linked to sexual activity but it is not necessary to have an extremely active sexual activity to have been exposed to HPV, it is enough to have a completely banal sexuality and normal to have been exposed with a probability close to 100%”confirms Professor Xavier Carcopino, head of the gynecological surgery department of the Hôpital Nord de Marseille.
A low risk of injury in men
“Women are significantly more susceptible to HPV than men“says Dr. Mergui. According to a 2017 study, out of 660,000 cancers attributable to HPV, 60% affect women and 40% men. But women are screened and not men. “If women were not screened, there would be an explosion of cases of cervical cancer in the world“, he continues. Of the cancers attributable to HPV, more than half are cancers of the cervix and in men 80% are ENT cancers (cancers of the head and neck), which generally have a better prognosis.
Condoms also do not fully protect against HPV infection. It is only 70% effective if used systematically: the virus is also transmitted by hand and sexual intercourse does not stop at penetration.
But should we at least warn the partner(s) in the event of papillomavirus or lesion? “No, there is no point in doing so“, says Professor Xavier Carcopino. The infection is indeed inevitable and there is no benefit in announcing it to the partner, except to install problems or conflict in the couple, according to the specialist. “We cannot know the date of contaminationhe continues, which means she’s probably been there for a few years“. In the couple, it is therefore not a question of infection that arises, but rather a question of immunity and the ability to eliminate the virus, what is called the viral clearance.
And in case of possible infection, is a systematic examination of the partner recommended? Neither, according to Professor Carcopino. IThere is currently no treatment or preventive action that can prevent the transmission of HPV. “There is, a priori, no indication to go and offer any support to the partner or to the doctor, or to do an HPV test or a peniscopy., he adds. The only situation where there is a potential interest (and still): in the case of genital warts or condyloma, low-risk HPV infections. “Obviously it’s completely different for a chlamydia infection or other bacterial STI where screening will allow antibiotic therapy to be started which will eliminate the germ”concludes Professor Carcopino.
Studies have nevertheless shown some impact on women’s sexual health”extremely deleterious“with heavy repercussions on their sex life.
