How to Tell Someone You Have Genital Warts / HPV

Genital warts are warts of the genital region caused by a viral skin condition. Genital warts are considered a sexually transmitted disease.

One very hard aspect to dating is to tell someone you have a sexually transmitted disease. You never know how your partner is going to react. The fact is though, if you're starting to get close to someone at some point before you become intimate you're going to have say the words "I have genital warts".

Don'ts:

Never starts the conversation during your first point of encounter. When you meet someone for the first time it's not the best time to come right out and be open about this. Because people do not have a bond after an initial encounter its easier for people to walk away and not be accepting. A friendship has not formed yet.

Never act overly flirty indicating intimate encounters prior to discussing having genital warts. Depending on the person sometimes after the conversation this can have reverse effects if the person does not understand or is not willing to accept that you have genital warts.

Do not use the words genital warts. Use the term Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Usually the next question is what HPV is. From there you can explain that HPV causes a couple of bad things, one being warts, the other being bad pap smears (if your female). At this time its best to explain HPV is very common now a day. When you're first breaking the news for some reason hearing the term Human Papillomavirus is easier on the ears the genital warts.

Do's

Do start the conversation in a private place under a comfortable setting. Of course you are going to be nervous. No one likes rejection. It's better not to do these things under a very public event in case the person you're telling does not take the news good.

Remember you do not need to tell everyone you have HPV. You only have to tell those you feel you may become intimate with. Some relationships may never get to that stage and it's not worth telling people about your genital warts if the relationship is not headed to a sexual stage.

Gather all the information you can to become well informed about HPV so you are able to answer any questions your partner may have. When you are informed with the facts and are able to present them clearly this may help you partner become more comfortable with the problem.

Give your partner the time to react with the news you are presenting to them. Do not demand they give you a response to what you have just told them. If you are demanding you may get a response different then what you want. If given the chance to absorb the information and a chance to think clearly a better outcome is usually what someone decides on.

Source:Genital HPV Infection -CDC Fact Sheet