HPV very concerned
winter_stars
Posts: 4
Hi, I have ordered two vials from an outstanding gentleman, but have just read your HPV section under your FAQ, where it states that only a visual inspection of the genital area and an oral history taken because there is no FDA approved test for HPV. Now I am concerned. Olatunbosun et al. (2001) found that 8% of healthy sperm donors did indeed carry the infection, and that washing did not remove it from the spermatozoa. Further, their peer-reviewed paper described the use of polymerase chain reaction techniques to identify the virus effectively. Fairfax Cryobank uses this technique to try and eliminate infected donors. It seems that impartial research science supports this technique for a decade. Kaspersen et al. (2011) has also found HPV at at rate of 16% in healthy Danish sperm donors. There is information I have found that it is a skin to skin infection, but this is being promulgated on newsgroups and message boards and the science seems to contradict this assertion. I have tested negative for all STDs and have never had unprotected intercourse and now I am concerned with the material I have ordered from you and hope to use on Friday.
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Comments
The FDA does not recommend testing of men for HPV not because there is no reliable test, but because there is no treatment for men who have the STD. Bonnie L. Diraimondo, practice administrator, RN for three decades, author, and HPV/cancer sufferer makes the latter point in her writings. Dr. Hausen, MD, who won the Nobel prize for linking cervical cancer and HPV, has endorsed her work.
“To begin with the current HC2 technology used in testing for HPV does not discriminate. It knows not whether the specimen is from a male or a female. PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, is a test which has been used long before the digene HPV test and most currently used was approved by the FDA. This is also true of the tests available through Hologic and Roche's new cobas test.
It is often heard that there is no consistently reliable test for men, yet PCR is typically used in the majority of research studies, including those on men. If it were so unreliable, then the research study results should also be in question but they're not. These same results are used to develop policies and guidelines relative to things like screening, so obviously it isn't because the test is unreliable.” –Diraimondo, RN
Sorry for the delay in responding. Things are a bit crazy around here with our new website updates launching this weekend.
To make a long answer short, no regualtory body recommends performing HPV screening on sperm donors (this includes the FDA, CDC, CA and NY State Department of Health, etc.). Our screening standards are guided by these regulatory bodies and our Medical Director agrees with their assessment that the test is inaccurate and unjustified.
Testing semen doesn't give accurate results because the HPV virus isn't in the semen; if present, it is found in the urethral cells. The only way to test urethral cells from a male is extremely painful and invasive. Testing semen for HPV on a male would be like testing urine on a woman. It doesn't tell you if the virus is present because you aren't looking in the right place.
You mention Fairfax does the testing. I can not comment on their interpretation of the test's value. It does look nice in terms of their marketing, but we do not believe it lowers any risk to a recipient.
Fianlly, I do not know of any cases of HPV transmition from one of our donors to a recipient. I can't say that a risk doesn't exist, but by performing regular physicial exams on all donors for genital warts (which is the recommended screening procedure), I believe we diminish the risk as much as is possible.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Scott
CCB