Is it required by law to disclose you're hpv status? I'm just wondering because I heard that it is a felony to not inform your partner. I recently tested positive for a high risk hpv and later found out that my partner had recently been treated for genital warts. He knew he had them and slept with me anyway without disclosing this information to me. If it's a felony, what actions can I take to make sure he's held responsible for infecting me?

I've never heard of such a thing. As far as I know there's no law that requires you to reveal your HPV (or any STD's for that matter) status to anyone. At least not that I'm aware of in the US. As for other countries, I have no idea.

Not to change the subject, but I should mention that external genital warts are not linked to "high-risk" hpv. Sometimes "high-risk" can cause them, namely "flat warts", but from what I've heard, it's not common. If he had genital warts, more then likely he's infected with "low-risk" hpv. "High-risk" rarely ever shows sign in men. Not to say that he couldn't have given that to you as well. People can come in contact, and carry, more then one type/strain of the virus. However, it is possible, you could've gotten in from another person in the past. It's very possible for the virus to lay dormant for numerous years before showing any symptoms at all. Whether it's warts and/or dysplasia. Doesn't require penetration either. Even if a person were to rub genitals together, you can run the risk of catching it. It's passed via skin to skin contact. I've even heard it's possible to catch it from mutual masterbation. Where if you touch infected genitals, and then touch your own without washing beforehand, you could possibly get it. Now how common that is, I don't know any statistics. Same for if you share sexual toys.

If you're interested, and haven't already, you can read up more on HPV, and it's symptoms, on this site's HPV section:
http://www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv_learn.cfm

it is illegal for someone to disclose information like an std,yes you can press charges,you can sue him, and he can be put in prison for keeping thi information from you and for giving you an std.you should talk to a lawyer!

Laws about STDs may vary from state to state, so a universal answer might be hard to find. I've never heard of anyone going to jail over STD's but this isn't my area of knowledge.

There is usually no real way to determine how long one may have had HPV prior to diagnosis, so it can be difficult to know for sure when or from whom the virus was contracted. Legal questions should be directed to someone with expertise in these matters and since I know nothing about the subject, I'm sorry that I can't offer advice in that regard.

If you do find out anything specific here, please update us.

Thanks,
Fredo

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ASHA Moderator

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to address my questions and concerns. It is nice to have a place to ask questions at such an uncertain and upsetting time in my life.