QUESTION
I have HPV. My partner and I use condoms, but I’m worried about oral sex. I know skin-to-skin contact can transmit the disease, but can my genital HPV infect either of us orally?

ANSWER
You’re right that HPV can be spread by skin-to-skin contact.. Such contact happens during anal or vaginal sex. It may be possible to spread HPV during oral sex but that seems to be rare. Symptoms of HPV include genital warts, cervical and anal cancer. The new Gardasil vaccine is a great way for young women to protect themselves from HPV. Ask your doctor. Get it! For more information about HPV, visit http://dphwww.sfdph.org/sfcityclinic/stdbasics/hpv.asp.

To your health,
Dr. K