Disclaimer: I am not medically trained. I am not a researcher. I am not an expert. I am just a polyamorous female who has done her homework and is willing to pass along stuff.
Specific HPV Concerns for those Polyamorous
STDs of all kinds are a concern for people pursuing multiple relationships. Some folks may be concerned more than others, and we each choose our own comfort level with STDs and their risks. HPV, however, presents some unique risk factors that I feel that non-monogamous people who consider themselves concerned, responsible and/or knowledgeable about STDs should consider.
Most sites I've been to assume a monogamous relationship, and actually recommend monogamy (or celibacy) as a primary preventative measure for HPV. I was unable to find any useful information pertaining to folks intentionally having multiple partners.. thus this site.
Below are some factoids I've compiled that I think are particularly relevant for poly people to keep in mind:
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Estimates show that at any time, 20-30% of the population is carrying at least one strain of HPV - and most do not know it. (I do not have statistics as to how many people are carrying one of the high risk strains.) Estimates are that close to 80% of all sexually active people will be exposed to the virus at some point in their lives.
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Condoms have been proven by HPV researchers to not be fully effective in preventing the transmission of HPV - as it's transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, and condoms do not cover all genital flesh. Yes, condoms can prevent some spread of the virus - but they should not be counted on as protecting you from HPV. A comprehensive study published on June 22, 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine has shown that condoms are about 70% effective in preventing the spread of the virus. However, they seem to be near 100% effective in preventing the virus from forming lesions (which are pre-cancerous, and the start of cervical cancer.) This may be of particular concern for folks who have a mix of partners whom they use condoms with and that they don't.
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Genital HPV is most commonly transmitted via sexual intercourse, however it can also be transmitted by manual stimulation, toys and oral sex. And a May 13, 2007 New England Journal of Medicaine study shows that oral and throat cancers are significantly linked to HPV and are oral sex (and possibly smooching) transmitted.
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Most healthy immune systems can deal with a new HPV infection without ever producing any symptoms or complications. Most strains are naturally taken care of in the body within 6-24 months. Studies show that only about 9% of people will ever have detectable symptoms of HPV. However, the introduction of multiple strains of HPV (of all types) can reduce the immune system's ability to fight the infections, and increases the risk of cervical pre-cancerous cell changes. The risk of introduction of new strains is directly related to the introduction of new sexual partners in a sexual network. This is where women in non-monogamous relationships have a greater risk of having an abnormal PAP smear.
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A women's risk of cervical dysplasia can be directly tied to the number of sexual partners she has, and the number of sexual partners her partners have. This is a big concern for polyamorous people... especially when you account for any genital contact. More importantly, the risk is tied to the rate that NEW sexual partners are introduced in her circle, not just directly involved with her.
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Men are carriers of HPV, but rarely have any symptoms themselves from the high risk strains. There are rare cases of penile and anal dysplasia/cancer, however. There are no FDA approved tests for HPV for men mainly because in men, the test can only confirm the existence of HPV, not clear them of infection. The Digene HPV Hybrid Capture DNA test for women is however FDA approved and can be requested with liquid based PAP smears. It's nearly impossible to tell if a man is actively carrying a strain, and if so, for how long he's contagious.
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There is no quick cure you can take to get rid of HPV. One vaccine has been approved by the FDA, and second is coming soon. However, the vaccines are only approved for young adults under the age of 26, only targets 2 of the 13 high risk strains and results are not yet available about the vaccine's efficacy for those of us already sexually active. If a women is diagnosed with dysplasia - it is usually a couple of years before she is considered low risk for transmitting the virus. If treatment is recommended, it involves surgical removal of infected tissue of her cervix - an uncomfortable (to put it mildly) procedure that has about a 3-6 weeks recovery time (ie. no intercourse) associated with it.... plus up to a couple years of monitoring to make sure it's not persistent and progressing to cancer. (Personally, this is not my idea of acceptable treatment for a virus that is so common.) I've know many women who have been diagnosed with dysplasia, but never told they have and STD they can pass on to others.
