Childbirth with HPV

[laxobellavida]

Hi everyone! I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy 7 months ago. A month or so before I became pregnant, I was diagnosed with genital HPV. Throughout the whole pregnancy I was worries about passing it to my baby but doctors didn't seem concerned and assured me natural childbirth wouldn't put him at risk. Now months later I am still worrying that he may have gotten hpv in his voice box. I read that it's very rare and the doctor said it wouldn't happen but I can't help but be scared that he could have gotten it. Has anyone else experienced this? Would he have already had it, since he's already 7 months?

 

[MindUtopia]

I really wouldn't worry. I work in the sexual health field and MOST women of childbearing age have or have had HPV at some point during their sexually active years - like 70% - so most will also have it when they are giving birth. It's so common that we rarely even test for it anymore. The immune system is pretty good at eventually clearing it out in most people, with some rare exceptions of the very high risk types - but the high risk forms of HPV aren't usually the strains that cause genital warts. So more than likely your body will fight it off eventually and even if he was exposed, his body will likely clear it out as well just as yours does. In the very, very rare instance that it did lead to an infection in the throat, which really is very, very rare considering most women have had HPV, it would be obvious from breathing difficulties. In the absence of that, try not to worry. It really is so common and if it caused frequent complications, we would be offered a test in pregnancy to screen for it, but most people aren't simply because we'd probably nearly all test positive.

 

[laxobellavida]

I really wouldn't worry. I work in the sexual health field and MOST women of childbearing age have or have had HPV at some point during their sexually active years - like 70% - so most will also have it when they are giving birth. It's so common that we rarely even test for it anymore. The immune system is pretty good at eventually clearing it out in most people, with some rare exceptions of the very high risk types - but the high risk forms of HPV aren't usually the strains that cause genital warts. So more than likely your body will fight it off eventually and even if he was exposed, his body will likely clear it out as well just as yours does. In the very, very rare instance that it did lead to an infection in the throat, which really is very, very rare considering most women have had HPV, it would be obvious from breathing difficulties. In the absence of that, try not to worry. It really is so common and if it caused frequent complications, we would be offered a test in pregnancy to screen for it, but most people aren't simply because we'd probably nearly all test positive.

Thank you so much. I was diagnosed with genital warts but was never tested... Is it true that an acetic vinegar test is accurate in diagnosing? I feel so guilty that I constantly worry about it. I haven't had any since I gave birth but I could deal with it if it's recurring... But the chance of my son getting it is so stressful.