I am a 60 year old conservative gay male who has always practiced monogamy and until now has been std free, but a year ago found out I have genital warts. After much wrestling and denial I have come to accept this fact, and have decided to do the right thing and be up front about my condition where a potential future partner is concerned, however, I have the following observation and am interested in the thoughts of others:


" I have been doing more reading about hpv and I am becoming somewhat confused. It appears that once you have symptoms from the hpv virus suddenly you become responsible for warning partners that you have hpv.
However, all the research I am reading says that between 60 and 75% of all north american adults have hpv, but most don't know it because they have never experienced any symptoms.
Even a rutgers university study says that to have hpv is almost the same as saying "you are normal".

Like duh!! Where does it suddenly become necessary for those who know to have to tell those who don't know? I am beginning to think it is merely a question of ethics. There is so much that is unknown about the hpv which causes warts and other hpv's that I am concerned as to why anyone would be told what they must or mustn't do about it, other than do everything possible to treat it where it can be treated, and to be cautious in future encounters.

Hpv is such a big issue in north america that it is even mentioned on the west wing last night, but only in relation to the cancer causing versions of hpv.

It also seems likely that the wart related hpv cannot be transmitted by oral sex. Some of the others can, but not gw hpv.

At any rate I am going to start the aldara treatment next week and hope that the virus can be fought more strongly by my system as a result."